Delta Sailplane Nomad

Last updated
Honcho and Nomad
Role Ultralight aircraft and motorglider
National origin United States
ManufacturerDelta Sailplane Corporation
StatusProduction completed
Developed from Volmer VJ-24W SunFun

The Delta Sailplane Honcho and Delta Sailplane Nomad are a family of American ultralight aircraft and motorgliders that were derived from the Volmer VJ-24W SunFun and produced by the Delta Sailplane Corporation. The aircraft were supplied as kits for amateur construction. [1] [2]

United States Federal republic in North America

The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States or America, is a country comprising 50 states, a federal district, five major self-governing territories, and various possessions. At 3.8 million square miles, the United States is the world's third or fourth largest country by total area and is slightly smaller than the entire continent of Europe, which is 3.9 million square miles. With a population of over 327 million people, the U.S. is the third most populous country. The capital is Washington, D.C., and the most populous city is New York City. Most of the country is located contiguously in North America between Canada and Mexico.

Volmer VJ-24W SunFun

The Volmer VJ-24W SunFun is an American high-wing, strut-braced, single-seat, pod-and-boom motor glider and ultralight aircraft that was designed by Volmer Jensen and provided as plans for amateur construction by his company Volmer Aircraft of Glendale, California.

Homebuilt aircraft planes constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity

Homebuilt aircraft, also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from "scratch", from plans, or from assembly kits.

Contents

Design and development

The Nomad and Honcho were both designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). Both have a standard empty weight of 189 lb (86 kg). They feature a strut-braced high-wing, a single-seat, open cockpit, and a single engine in pusher configuration. The Nomad is the motorglider version with monowheel gear and a longer wing, while the Honcho has tricycle landing gear and a shorter wing. [1] [2]

Pusher configuration arrangement of propellers on an aircraft to face rearward

In a vehicle with a pusher configuration, the propeller(s) are mounted behind their respective engine(s). According to British aviation author Bill Gunston, a "pusher propeller" is one mounted behind the engine, so that the drive shaft is in compression.

Tricycle landing gear aircraft undercarriage arranged with main gear under the wing or fuselage and a third set under the nose

Tricycle gear is a type of aircraft undercarriage, or landing gear, arranged in a tricycle fashion. The tricycle arrangement has a single nose wheel in the front, and two or more main wheels slightly aft of the center of gravity. Tricycle gear aircraft are the easiest to take-off, land and taxi, and consequently the configuration is the most widely used on aircraft.

Both the aircraft are made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with the wings and tail surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric covering. The high wing is supported by V-struts with jury struts. The pilot sits on an open seat with no windshield. Engines used include the 26 hp (19 kW) Lloyd DS1, 28 hp (21 kW) Lloyd DS2, and the 18 hp (13 kW) Solo 210. [1] [2]

Aircraft dope Paint used on fabric-covered aircraft

Aircraft dope is a plasticised lacquer that is applied to fabric-covered aircraft. It tightens and stiffens fabric stretched over airframes, which renders them airtight and weatherproof.

Aircraft fabric covering

Aircraft fabric covering is a term used for both the material used and the process of covering aircraft open structures. It is also used for reinforcing closed plywood structures, the de Havilland Mosquito being an example of this technique, and on the pioneering all-wood monocoque fuselages of certain World War I German aircraft like the LFG Roland C.II, in its wrapped Wickelrumpf plywood strip and fabric covering.

The assembly time is 120–150 hours. [2]

Variants

Honcho
Tricycle landing gear version with nosewheel steering, an auxiliary tailwheel, and a 32.2 ft (9.8 m) span wing. [1] [2]
Nomad
Monowheel gear version with a 36.1 ft (11.0 m) span wing, wing area of 147 sq ft (13.7 m2), wing loading of 2.77 lb/sq ft (13.5 kg/m2) and a cruise speed of 55 mph (89 km/h). [1] [2]

Specifications (Honcho)

Data from Cliche and Virtual Ultralight Museum [1] [2]

General characteristics

Performance

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-17. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN   0-9680628-1-4
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Virtual Ultralight Museum (n.d.). "Nomad/Honcho" . Retrieved 12 November 2011.
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