| Scintex Rubis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scintex Rubis at Guyancourt airfield, Paris, in 1965 | |
| Role | General aviation aircraft
Type of aircraft
|
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Scintex-Aviation |
| First flight | 3 June 1962 |
| Introduction | 1964 |
| Primary user | Private owners |
| Number built | 8 |
| Developed from | ML 145 |
The Scintex ML 250 Rubis was a French civil utility aircraft of the 1960s.
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.[1]
Scintex developed the ML 250 with a larger five-seat cabin and fitted with a 250 hp (186 kW) Lycoming O-540 engine. This first flew on 3 June 1962.[2] 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.
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 the Piper Comanche. The Rubis has remained in service with French private pilots and four were airworthy in 2005.[3] Two of these, including the aircraft pictured right (F-BJMD) were still active on the French civil aircraft register in 2015.[4]
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66[5]
General characteristics
Performance
