| Eta | |
|---|---|
 Eta at Lübeck airport | |
| General information | |
| Type | Open-class sailplane |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Consortium |
| Designer | Flugtechnik Leichtbau, Braunschweig, led by Reiner Kickert |
| Number built | 3 |
| History | |
| First flight | 31 July 2000 |
The Eta is a German-Italian Open Class two-seater flapped self-launching glider manufactured by ETA Aircraft. On introduction it was the highest performing glider.[ clarification needed ] [1]
The Eta made its first flight on July 31, 2000 in Cochstedt, Germany, reaching a height of 2 m (7 ft). The second flight was the first aerotow launch, reaching 1,500 m (4,920 ft). The third flight was self powered and had no problems. The official presentation was on 1 August.[ citation needed ]
Three Etas have been manufactured. The second prototype was extensively damaged in 2003 during the spin tests required for the type certification but both pilots parachuted to safety. The prototype was repaired and the tests completed successfully. The glider was to be produced by hand at a rate of about three per year.
The Eta is an example of a trend in glider development in which private pilots initiate the development of new open class gliders. The private development of the Concordia sailplane promises a further elevation of the max lift-to-drag ratio to slightly over 75 at 137 km/h (85 mph; 74 kn). [2]
An Eta participated in a World Championship for the first time in 2003 at Leszno. Its pilot, Janusz Centka, achieved an overall second place. Good placings have also been achieved by the Eta in later competitions. The glider is however hampered by the Open Class weight limitation which limits its wing loading in gusty weather to the advantage of its opponents.[ citation needed ]
Data from Simons (2005) p.99 [3]
General characteristics
Performance
The X-26 Frigate is the longest-lived of the X-plane programs. The program included the X-26A Frigate sailplane and the motorized X-26B Quiet Thruster versions: QT-2, QT-2PC, and QT-2PCII. All were based on the Schweizer SGS 2-32 sailplane.
The ASK 13 is a two-seater glider that was built by German sailplane manufacturer Alexander Schleicher Gmbh & Co. It was and still is widely used for basic training of glider pilots.
The ASW 24 is a modern single-seat high-performance composite Standard Class sailplane. It is manufactured in Germany by Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co.
The SZD-45 Ogar (Hound) is a T-tailed cantilever high-wing monoplane of wooden, aluminium and fibreglass construction designed and manufactured in Poland.
The ASW 22 is an Open Class glider built by Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co which first flew in 1981. The 'W' in the designation indicates that this is a product of the German designer Gerhard Waibel. An ASW 22 broke the world 750 km triangle speed record in 1985 and ASW 22s have won first place in six World Gliding Championships.
The ASH 30 is a two-seater Open Class glider manufactured by Alexander Schleicher, developed as a replacement for the ASH 25. The Mi version is powered by a 41 kW (55 hp) Wankel engine. The prototype made its maiden flight on 7 April 2011 from Wasserkuppe.
The Silent 2 Targa is a single seater sailplane of Italian manufacture. It is of the FAI DU Class glider. It is sold by Alisport ready-to-fly or kit-built as pure glider or self-launching glider. The self-launching version can be fitted with a single-blade propeller belt-driven by a two-stroke engine or with a double-blade folding propeller directly driven by an electric motor.
The Fournier RF 4 is a single-seater motor glider designed by René Fournier in 1966. It is an aerobatic version of the Fournier RF 3.
The Glasflügel 206 Hornet is a Standard Class sailplane produced in Germany between 1975 and 1979. Of conventional sailplane design with a T-tail, it replaced the Standard Libelle, featuring composite construction throughout. Differences from the earlier aircraft included a redesigned canopy, retractable monowheel landing gear, and provision for 100 kg (220 lbs) of water ballast.
The Glasflügel BS-1, sometimes called the Björn Stender BS-1 or the Stender BS-1, is a West German, high-wing, single seat, T-tailed, FAI Open Class glider that was designed by Björn Stender and produced by Glasflügel.
The Sigma is an experimental glider developed in Britain from 1966 by a team led by Nicholas Goodhart. After disappointing performance during flight testing the Sigma was passed on to a Canadian group which carried out modifications, making the Sigma more competitive.
The Slingsby T.49 Capstan is a British two-seat glider of the 1960s built by Slingsby Sailplanes as a replacement for their earlier Type 42 Eagle.
The SZD-20x Wampir II was a single-seat tail-less research glider designed and built in Poland from 1959.
The Explorer PG-1 Aqua Glider is an American single seat, biplane glider that was designed by Bill Skiliar in 1959 and made available as plans for amateur construction. The prototype was built with help from a troop of Air Explorer Scouts that same year.
The Prue Super Standard is an American, high-wing, single-seat, FAI Standard Class glider that was designed by Irving Prue in 1962 as a development of the Prue Standard.
The Whigham GW-3 is a family of American mid-wing, single-seat, FAI Open Class gliders that was designed and constructed by Gene Whigham, a retired flight test engineer for Convair. It first flew in 1965.
The Aerola Alatus is a Ukrainian mid-wing, single-seat, glider and motor glider, designed and produced by Aerola of Kyiv.
The Allstar SZD-54 Perkoz is a two-seater, glider for training, aerobatics, cross country flight and cloud flying from the Polish manufacturer Allstar PZL Glider. The sailplane has exchangeable wing tips for either 17.5 or 20 metres and is manufactured primarily from glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP). Without wing extension, it is certified for unlimited aerobatic manoeuvres. For glider training, the short wingspan is supplemented with winglets. As a cross-country glider with a 20 metres wing and winglets, the Perkoz has a glider index of 102. The SZD-54-2 Perkoz is the successor of the widely used SZD-50-3 Puchacz trainer, which is part of the SZD family of aircraft.
The Kortenbach & Rauh Kora 1 was an unusual twin boom, pusher configuration motor glider, designed and built in Germany in the 1970s and intended as a training aircraft.
The ASG 32 is a Two Seater Class glider manufactured by Alexander Schleicher. The prototype had its maiden flight in Poppenhausen on 31 May 2014. Deliveries began in 2015.