Design and development
Designed to meet a specification by the Imperial German Navy for a higher-powered replacement for the Sablatnig SF-2s then in service, the SF-5 was a very similar aircraft other than in its choice of engine.Nowarra 1966, p.64Gray & Thetford 1962, p.542 The first batch (serials 968–987) were delivered between January and May 1917, built in the Navy's HFT classification (unarmed reconnaissance aircraft equipped with wireless transmitter and receiver). They were followed by two further batches (1224–1233 and 1352–1371) between July and September.Operational history
These machines served widely with seaplane stations throughout the North Sea and Baltic Sea. The SF-5 was generally disliked by its aircrews, who dubbed it the "Lame Crow" on account of its poor banking and climbing performance and general sluggishness. Crews found that the supposed cruising speed of production examples was in fact their top speed. Some SF-5s perhaps saw action as bombers against Russian forces, but even those flying reconnaissance missions were easy prey for Russian fighters. At least two SF-5s were captured by the Russians and put to use by them. A single SF-5 was fitted with wheeled undercarriage salvaged from another aircraft. Designated SF-6 by the factory, and assigned the designation B.I by the ''Operators
; * Imperial German Navy ; * Ottoman Air ForceSpecifications
Notes
References
* * * * * * {{Idflieg B-class designations Sablatnig aircraft 1910s German military reconnaissance aircraft Floatplanes Biplanes Single-engined tractor aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1917