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| This radical design by ducted-fan protagonists RFB was designed as a two-seat (tandem) jet trainer, offering low operating costs by use of a ducted-fan engine mounted aft of the cabin and fore of the T tail. A rotary engine was considered initially, but the specified Allison type prevailed. The design proved too radical for many and commercial success was not forthcoming. The Fantrainer only saw service in small numbers with the Luftwaffe and the Royal Thai Air Force.
Robert Jackson "The Encyclopedia of Aircraft", 2004
| MODEL | Fantrainer 400 |
| CREW | 1-2 |
| PASSENGERS | 2 |
| ENGINE | 1 x 650hp Allison 250-C30 turboshaft ducted-fan engine |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 1600 kg | 3527 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 9.70 m | 32 ft 10 in |
| Length | 9.20 m | 30 ft 2 in |
| Height | 3.20 m | 11 ft 6 in |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 463 km/h | 288 mph |
| Ceiling | 7620 m | 25000 ft |
| Range | 2316 km | 1439 miles |
| Joe Weinhardt, e-mail, 30.09.2015 04:37 Hi!
I'm seriously considering building a two seater ducted light sport aircraft.
The fan trainer appears to be ideal to scale down to MTOW 600kg.
Are there any plans, drawings, pictures available as a guide, out there?
JoeW reply | | Thomas, e-mail, 23.04.2013 00:28 This airraft can be produced today again of course with latest avionics
Any serious interest contact me reply | | Obaid, e-mail, 05.12.2011 15:51 what is the viability to reproduce this FRB 650 using new generation avionics reply | | D. Howerton, e-mail, 23.11.2011 03:32 Other sources say the RFB Fantrainer 400 was powered by a 425hp Allison turboprop engine while the 600 model used the Allison 650hp engine. Too bad the Fantrainer concept wasn't a success. As a former USAF T-37 instructor pilot, I think the Fantrainer had a lot of potential both as a trainer and as an observation /light attack aircraft. It's quiet operation would certainly have been welcomed by Tweet pilots. reply | |
| | j. jaway, e-mail, 10.06.2010 09:01 I found out about the RFB Fantrainer just a couple days ago. I believed its a neat aircraft. reply |
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Do you have any comments?
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