The Leichflugtechnik-Union (LFU) was a consortium formed by the
Bölkow, and
Rhein-Flugzeugbau companies specifically to produce an aircraft built entirely of glass reinforced plastic (GRP). The result, the LFU 205 was one of the first all-grp light aircraft. The LFU 205 is a single-engined, low-winged monoplane of conventional appearance apart from slight, 7° forward sweep on the moderately tapered wing. This carries
Fowler flaps along the whole
trailing edge inboard of the
Frise ailerons. The tail surfaces are also straight tapered, with the vertical surfaces slightly swept. The tailplane is a single piece, all moving surface. There are two pairs of side by side seats under a large curved, rearward sliding, canopy.
Fuselage and flying surfaces are
monocoque structures using a grp sandwich with a smooth outer surface bonded to a corrugated inner skin, the latter formed from parallel 10 mm (0.4 in) tubes wrapped in glass fibre. The corrugations run chordwise, rib-like, in the wings and tail and circumferentially in the fuselage. The tail structures have a foam plastic core. It is powered by a flat 4-cylinder, 200 hp (150 kW)
Lycoming IO-360 engine and has a tricycle undercarriage with inward retracting main legs and an aft retracting nosewheel. The first flight was on 29 March 1968. ==Operational history==