Kasper Bekas

Last updated

Bekas series
Role Glider
National origin United States
Designer Witold Kasper
First flightApril 1968
Introduction1968
StatusNo longer in production
Number built3
Developed from Brochocki BKB-1

The Kasper Bekas is a family of American mid-wing, tailless gliders designed by Witold Kasper and derived from the earlier 1959 Brochocki BKB-1 design. [1] [2]

Contents

Design and development

The Bekas series was an attempt by Kasper to create an experimental tailless glider with a higher glide ratio, better ground handling and rigging, using a flexible wing to study the effects of wing flexing on stability and controllability in flight. [1] [2]

The Bekas is built from wood and covered in plywood. The wing uses a NACA 8-H-12 airfoil and has greater span and higher aspect ratio than the BKB-1 to achieve its goals. The wing features outboard trailing edge control surfaces that act both as elevator for pitch control and aileron for roll control. The wing is swept 15° and has a chord of 38 in (97 cm). The landing gear is a fixed monowheel. [1] [2]

The design resulted in a high glide ratio for a 15 m (49.2 ft) wingspan of 45:1, along with a reasonably low sink rate of 2.0 feet per second. [1] [2]

Operational history

The first Bekas, an "N" model, was built by Kasper in 1968. It was destroyed and removed from FAA records in 1977. [3]

Two others were completed. One model 1-A was started by Al Wilson of Seattle, Washington and completed by Clifford Johnson of Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1972, which features a wider chord wing. The final one was completed by Don Mattson of Seattle. [2] [4]

Variants

Bekas N
The "N" (for narrow wing) was first flown in April 1968. [2]
Bekas 1-A
Variant with longer wing chord. [1] [2]

Specifications (Bekas N)

Data from Sailplane Directory and Soaring [1] [2]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Activate Media (2006). "Bekas 1-A Kasper". Archived from the original on August 19, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Said, Bob: 1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine , page 36. Soaring Society of America November 1983. USPS 499-920
  3. ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (April 2011). "Make / Model Inquiry Results" . Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  4. ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (April 2011). "Make / Model Inquiry Results" . Retrieved April 26, 2011.
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