Gliders Sailplanes Michael Haray Gliders& Sailplanes OF THE WORLD Michael Hardy LONDON I AN ALLAN LTD Introduction by the appearance of a number of powered versions of hang glider designs, but of several types of so- To most aviation enthusiasts, especially if they live called 'minimum aeroplanes' for fun flying, which some distance away from the nearest gliding club or combine an engine of very low power with the most centre, gliders and sailplanes have probably always basic and simple airframe that can carry a pilot in remained something of a closed book, largely reasonable comfort. These latter types are not because so very few of them are ever displayed at included in this book because they are ultra-lights the major air shows like Farnborough and the Paris rather than powered sailplanes, and are not Salon. And those who made a brief acquaintance intended for soaring. with gliders during their time in the Air Training Paradoxically, perhaps, in a world of rising fuel Corps some years ago and have not since been in prices the powered sailplane has enjoyed something close contact with them, may well be surprised at of a boom in recent years, with over 700 of the how far they have developed from the simple, Scheibe SF-25 Falke series built so far, and M Rene aerodynamically unsophisticated wood and fabric Fournier's RF3, RF4D and RF5 designs continuing to types of the 1940s, and how many different designs sell. Three categories may usefully be distinguished have been produced. here: (1) the existing sailplane modified to take an This book gives salient particulars of the history, engine, usually retracting dorsally into the fuselage, development and technical features of nearly 300 as in the Finnish PIK-20E and the Scheibe SF-27M; different types of sailplane and powered glider not (2) the existing sailplane more drastically re­ only from the major European sailplane-producing designed to take an engine in the nose, like the countries such as Germany, France, the United Rumanian IS-28M; and (3) a new design with sail­ Kingdom and Poland, but from Argentina, Brazil, plane characteristics, but not necessarily directly India, Japan, the People's Republic of China, South derived from an existing sailplane, examples being Africa, Australia and, of course, the USA. Most of Rene Fournier's Avion-Planeur RF3, RF4D and RF5 these are in production or are flying in prototype built by Sportavia. Development of successful form, but a few types no longer in service, such as modifications of the Volkswagen car engine has the prewar German Condor, Rhonadler and Rhon- done much to make the motor glider popular, and in bussard are included because in their time they were the first category some very neat retractable engine widely used and are of historical importance. installations result in only a minimal effect on Hang gliders have not been included because they soaring performance. Wankel rotary engines and are now so numerous - sufficiently so, in fact, to ducted fans, as well as motorcycle engines and small justify a separate volume to themselves. One or two turbojets have all been tried out in recent years, and powered hang gliders, such as the Chotia Weed- rising fuel prices and the shortage of fossil fuels are hopper, have been included, as well as one or two likely to result in more examples of solar- and foot-launched sailplanes such as the unusual Swiss electrically-powered sailplanes in years to come. So Avifiber Canard-2 FL, which have been influenced far nobody has attempted an aircraft that runs on by hang glider design. A notable feature of the last peat fuel but in these energy-conscious days one can few years has been the extent to which the once never tell! clear borderlines between powered gliders and light M. J. Hardy aircraft have become increasingly blurred, not only Selsey, West Sussex First published 1982 Abbreviations CofA Certificate of Airworthiness cc Cubic centimetre ISBN0711011524 eg Centre of gravity db Decibels (noise level) ft Feet ft/min Feet per minute All rights reserved. No part of this book may be ft/sec Feet per second reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any gal Gallon means, electronic or mechanical, including photo­ hp Horsepower copying, recording or by any information storage Imp Imperial and retrieval system, without permission from the in Inch Publisher in writing. Kg Kilogram Ib Pound Ib/sqft Pounds per square foot ©lan Allan Ltd. 1982 m Metre mm Millimetres Published by lan Allan Ltd, Shepperton, Surrey; mph Miles per hour and printed in the United Kingdom by lan Allan rpm Revolutions per minute Printing Ltd at their works at Coombelands in sqft Square feet Runnymede, England st Static thrust Part One Gliders and Sailplanes AER-PegasoM-100 Italy Data: M-100S production in June 1963, and by the French licensees Span: 49ft 21/2in CARMAM (Cooperative d'Approvisionnement et de Length: 21 ft 6in Reparation de Material Aeronautique de Moulins), Height: 5ft Sin who built the type as the M-100S Mesange (Tomtit), Wing area: 141sq ft beginning deliveries in June 1963. Several improved Aspect ratio: 17.1 features were introduced by CARMAM from aircraft Empty weight: 441 Ib No 23 onward, including light alloy air brakes Max take-off weight: 694lb instead of plastic ones, a new metal-framed one- Max speed: 137 mph (in smooth air) piece canopy of Italian manufacture hinged Min sinking speed: 2.13ft/secat41.6mph sideways and a wooden seat for the pilot. Altogether Best glide ratio: 32:1 at BOmph about 180 of the M-1 DOS were produced both in Italy and by CARMAM at Moulins-Avernes. The M-100S is This Italian single-seater sailplane was designed by fully aerobatic (except for inverted flight) and is of Alberto and Piero Morelli and in its M-100 form first conventional all-wood construction; the single wing flew in 1957, winning an Italian Aero Club competi­ span is of beech and the wing is covered with tion for the best design of a single-seat sailplane. The plywood and fabric, with a leading edge torsion box. M-100 had a 14m (45ft 11in) wing span and this The slotted ailerons are fabric-covered and the air version served Italian clubs for a time as their brakes are of an unusual design consisting of three standard trainer. It was followed by the M-100S pairs of light alloy rotating plates above and below which featured a 15m (49ft 2!/2in) span wing to meet each wing. Rudder and elevators are fabric covered, Standard class requirements, and which first flew in while the landing gear consists of a rubber-sprung prototype form in January 1960. Production of the nose-skid and a non-retractable mono-wheel with a M-100S was undertaken in Italy by Aeromere, which disc brake; there is also a tailskid. Oxygen and radio built 41, by Avionautica Rio S. p. A., which started equipment are stowed behind the pilot's seat. AhrensAR124 USA Data :AR 124 intended production version. Flight testing and Span: 42ft 7% in certification trials have been proceeding to meet a Length: 20ft Oin target of first customer deliveries beginning late in Height: 5ft 2in 1979, although this has been affected by progress Wing area: 135.0sqft with the firm's other major project, the four- Aspect ratio: 13.5 turboprop AR 404 30-passenger utility transport, and Empty weight: 350lb the AR 124 programme is currently dormant to give Max weight: 640lb priority to the AR 404. The AR 124 is a cantilever Max speed: 1 BOmph (in smooth air) mid-wing monoplane with a T-tail, an unusual Max aero-tow speed: 103mph feature being the all-aluminium construction Best glide ratio: 26:1 at69mph employed both for the constant-chord wings and the fuselage, the latter being an elliptical-section flush- The AR 124 single-seater 13m (42ft 7%in) span riveted monocoque; the wings have upper surface sailplane was designed and built by Ahrens Aircraft spoilers as well as ailerons. A constant-chord non- Corporation of Oxnard, California, which is the swept tailplane and one-piece elevator are mounted parent company of Ahrens Aircraft Inc, the main on the swept-back fin and rudder; constant-chord production and assembly plant, which is located at wings and tailplanes for ease of production are also the former Ramey Air Force Base, Aguadilla, Puerto a feature of the AR 404 utility transport. The AR 124 Rico. Three prototypes of the AR 124 have been built, has a fixed and unsprung Gerdes monowheel with a the third, or AR 124V3, making its first flight in hydraulic disc drake, and a tailwheel. August 1975, and this is representative of the Air 100 France Data: Air 100 Max weight: 745lb Span: 59ft Oin Normal gliding speed: 39.7mph Length: 26ft 4in Wing area: 194sqft This French high performance single-seater was Aspect ratio: 18.0 designed and produced just after the war by Arsenal Empty weight: 535lb de I'Aeronautique, perhaps better known for the VB 10 single-seater fighter-bomber powered by two with a landing skid fore and aft of it, plus a tail skid. Hispano-Suiza 12Z engines mounted in tandem in An Air 100 flown by Eric Nesslersetupa new French the fuselage, and for the jet-engined VG 70 and record for distance in a straight line of 311 miles VG 90. The Air 100 was designed for the French (501km)atWichita Falls, USA, on 14 July 1947. The National Gliding Centres and clubs, and was a final production version was the Air 102, and Arsenal cantilever high wing monoplane of mainly spruce de I'Aeronautique later became SFECMAS and was and plywood construction.