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The Scintex ML 250 Rubis was a French civil utility aircraft of the 1960s.
Scintex developed the ML 250 with a larger five-seat cabin and fitted with a Lycoming O-540 engine. This first flew on 3 June 1962. The aircraft was of a graceful design, using an all-wood construction, having a semi-monocoque plywood-covered fuselage and cantilever tapered low wing. The tail fin was swept and the aircraft, unusually, was fitted with a fully retractable tailwheel undercarriage.
Design and development
Scintex Aviation had manufactured the two-seat Emeraude from the late 1950s. In 1960 the firm designed the ML 145 four-seat low-wing cabin monoplane, powered by a 145 h.p. Continental O-300-B engine, the single example of which first flew on 25 May 1961.
Scintex developed the ML 250 with a larger five-seat cabin and fitted with a Lycoming O-540 engine. This first flew on 3 June 1962. The aircraft was of a graceful design, using an all-wood construction, having a semi-monocoque plywood-covered fuselage and cantilever tapered low wing. The tail fin was swept and the aircraft, unusually, was fitted with a fully retractable tailwheel undercarriage.
Production and service
Eight production examples of the ML 250 Rubis were completed by Scintex during 1964-1965. Whilst the type had an advanced specification, it suffered from competition from contemporary all-metal aircraft types such as thePiper Comanche
The Piper PA-24 Comanche is an American four-seat or six-seat, low-wing, all-metal, light aircraft of semimonocoque construction with tricycle retractable landing gear. Piper Aircraft designed and developed the Comanche, which first flew on Ma ...
. The Rubis has remained in service with French private pilots and four were airworthy in 2005. Two of these, including the aircraft pictured right (F-BJMD) were still active on the French civil aircraft register in 2015.
Specifications
References
;Notes ;Bibliography * * * * {{refend 1960s French civil utility aircraft Low-wing aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1962 Conventional landing gear