Sablatnig SF-1

The Sablatnig SF-1 was a reconnaissance seaplane built in Germany during the First World War.^[1]

SF-1
Role	Reconnaissance seaplane
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Sablatnig
Designer	Josef Sablatnig
First flight	1915
Primary user	Imperial German Navy
Number built	1

Development

It was a conventional two-bay biplane with staggered wings of unequal span and a fuselage of particularly sleek design.^[2] The pilot and observer sat in open cockpits in tandem, and the undercarriage consisted of twin pontoons braced to the underside of the fuselage and to wings.^[2]

Operational history

Sablatnig delivered the SF-1 prototype to the SVK (Seeflugzeug Versuchs Kommando – "Seaplane Testing Command") in October 1915 under the naval serial number 490.^[2] It was finally accepted into active naval service a full two years later, in October 1917.^[3] Although accepted for service with the Imperial German Navy, only the prototype was built, and no production order was forthcoming.^[2][3]

Operators

Germany

• Imperial German Navy Air Service

SVK (Seeflugzeug Versuchs Kommando – "Seaplane Testing Command")

Specifications

Data from Kroschel & Stützer 1994, p.135

General characteristics

• Crew: Two, pilot and observer
• Wingspan: 19.10 m (62 ft 8 in)
• Height: 4.35 m (14 ft 3 in)
• Empty weight: 1,015 kg (2,233 lb)
• Gross weight: 1,650 kg (3,630 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Mercedes D.III , 120 kW (160 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 125 km/h (78 mph, 68 kn)
• Rate of climb: 1.7 m/s (328 ft/min)