Rhein-Flugzeugbau List

Hi,

the Rhein-Flugzeugbau GmbH (RFB) was a German aircraft manufacturer,
the company was established at Krefeld, Germany in 1955, and later moved to Mönchengladbach.

Here is the aircraft which it involved,whatever designed or co-operated;

Fischer-Boretzki FiBo
RWF RW-3 Multoplan
RFB RFI
RFB-Beteiligung Leichtflugtechnik Union (LFU)
RFB-Übernahme der Sportavia-Pützer
RFB Sirius Motorsegler
RFB Schubgondel SG / Fan Pod
RFB Fanliner
RFB Fanstar
Vought V.538 Eaglet (NGT-Ausschreibung)
Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Fantrainer
RAF Provost T.3A Ersatz — AST. 412-Second trainer call for the Luftwaffe
Rockwell/ RFB Fan Ranger
Collins X.112
RFB X.113, CLST ESKA-1, Bavar 2
RFB X114
RFB X-215
RFB SSF-1
RFB X.117
RFB FL-5 und FF Whisper-Fan
Airfish AF-1 & AF-2
Airfish AF-3
Airfish Flarecraft L-325
Airfish AF-8

- Flightship Ground Effect Pty;
Flightship FS-40
Hoverwing HW2VT
Hoverwing HW20
Hoverwing HW5S0 Wingship WSH 500
Hoverwing HW80
Flyship GmbH

- Flyship GmbH
Hoverwing HW4

Fantrainer developments;

RFB AWI-2 - Fantrainer prototype from 1977 with Wankel engine, later converted to ATI-2 standard
RFB ATI-2 - second Fantrainer prototype with Allison turbine of 1978, loss due to crash 1978
RFB ATI-2ki - like ATI-2 with shortened wing
RFB ATI-4 - projected four-seat Fantrainer variant of 1974
RFB FT-400 - modified cockpit range with 1984 Allison 250-C20B
RTAF FT-400 - like RFB FT-400 with metal blades from Thai production
RTAF B.F.18 - type designation RTAF FT-400 in Thailand
RTAF B.F.18k - type designation RTAF FT-600 in Thailand
RFB FT-600 - modified cockpit range with 1984 Allison 250-C30B
RFB FT-800 - projected with 800 hp turbine drive from 1993
RFB FT-1000 - projected with 1000 HP turbine drive and Waffenträgeraufnahme, projected for Paraguay
from 1988
RFB FT-1200 - designed with 1200 HP turbine drive
RFB FT-1500 - configured with 1500 HP turbine drive
RFB Tiro Trainer - modernized version of the Fantrainer from 1994
Fanjet FJ-600 - modernized version of the RFB FT-600

A few words on the Fanliner.

A light / private aircraft production project was launched in Canada in 1988. It originated from a futuristic West German single-engine two-seater aircraft. Designed by Rhein Flugzeugbau (RFB) in collaboration with Grumman American Aviation, respectively subsidiaries of VFW-Fokker and Grumman, the Fanliner made its first flight in October 1973. Relatively little interested by this aircraft, Grumman American Aviation completely turned away from it after its acquisition by American Jet Industries in 1978.

A military derivative of the Fanliner flew in October 1977. Although deemed superior in a competition organized around 1978 by the West German air force, the Fantrainer was not ordered. Only the Thai air force signed a contract with RFB, for just over 45 aircraft. These were assembled during the 1980s in air force workshops with locally made wings.

Fascinated by the Fanliner, Canadian William H. "Bill" Rice bought the sole prototype as well as the production rights. Having founded Fanstar Partners in the United States in 1985, with the help of a few investors, he oversaw the installation of new wings. Around 1987, Rice tried to convince large American and Canadian flight schools to order the light / private Fanstar aircraft, a new name adopted shortly before. The site where these aircraft would be produced remained to be chosen. This project went nowhere.

Fanstar Partners had another kick at the can in 1988. The company said it wanted to manufacture the Fanstar somewhere in Canada. The aircraft Fanstar Partners spoke of in 1988 was somewhat different from that envisioned in the previous year. It was in fact a light / private four-seater aircraft derived from the Fantrainer. The company tried to find the funds to develop, certify and produce this aircraft. Indeed, Fanstar Partners hoped to obtain federal and / or provincial financial assistance. This project was no more successful than its predecessor.

A new German company, Fanjet Aviation, purchased the production rights and tooling in 2010. Its attempts to revive the Fanjet, a slightly modified Fantrainer, were unsuccessful. The website of the company was still up in 2021 (https://fanjetaviation.com/) but one has to wonder how active the company actually is.

What is this ?.

From Aviation magazine 1977.

It is an ekranoplan with folding wings called Sterne 525 (Tern bird in English): http://www.barque.ru/image/13894/2
(The idea seems incredibly impractical to me, sure to capsize at the smallest excuse)