Wings of Change Tsunami

Last updated
Tsunami
Role Paraglider
National origin Austria
Manufacturer Wings of Change
Designer Markus Gründhammer
Status Production completed
Produced mid-2000s
Unit cost
3,022 (Tsunami M, 2004)

The Wings of Change Tsunami is an Austrian single-place paraglider that was designed by Markus Gründhammer and produced by Wings of Change of Fulpmes. It is now out of production. [1]

Austria Federal republic in Central Europe

Austria, officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in Central Europe comprising 9 federated states. Its capital, largest city and one of nine states is Vienna. Austria has an area of 83,879 km2 (32,386 sq mi), a population of nearly 9 million people and a nominal GDP of $477 billion. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Hungary and Slovakia to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The terrain is highly mountainous, lying within the Alps; only 32% of the country is below 500 m (1,640 ft), and its highest point is 3,798 m (12,461 ft). The majority of the population speaks local Bavarian dialects as their native language, and German in its standard form is the country's official language. Other regional languages are Hungarian, Burgenland Croatian, and Slovene.

Wings of Change

Wings of Change is an Austrian aircraft manufacturer based in Fulpmes, founded by Markus Gründhammer. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of paragliders in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft.

Fulpmes Place in Tyrol, Austria

Fulpmes is a village and a municipality in Stubaital, Tyrol, Austria. In 2015 it had a population of 4,250, of whom 14.5% did not have Austrian nationality. Fulpmes is the center of iron production in the area, and lies at the base of the Schlick 2000 ski area.

Contents

Design and development

The Tsunami was designed as a performance glider. Gründhammer describes his design, "as a soft performance glider...[with the] launch characteristics of a DHV 1 glider and flight characteristics of a competition glider". [1] [2]

The models are each named for their relative size. [1]

Variants

Tsunami S
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 11.99 m (39.3 ft) span wing has a wing area of 23.54 m2 (253.4 sq ft), 59 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.1:1. The take-off weight range is 65 to 90 kg (143 to 198 lb). The glider model is Deutscher Hängegleiterverband e.V. (DHV) LTF/EN D certified. [1] [2]
Tsunami M
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 12.75 m (41.8 ft) span wing has a wing area of 26.64 m2 (286.8 sq ft), 59 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.1:1. The take-off weight range is 80 to 105 kg (176 to 231 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF/EN D certified. [1] [2]
Tsunami L
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 13.52 m (44.4 ft) span wing has a wing area of 29.94 m2 (322.3 sq ft), 59 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.1:1. The take-off weight range is 100 to 125 kg (220 to 276 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF/EN D certified. [1] [2]

Specifications (Tsunami M)

Data from Bertrand [1] and manufacturer [2]

General characteristics

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 56 km/h (35 mph; 30 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 38 km/h (24 mph; 21 kn)
  • Stall speed: 21 km/h (13 mph; 11 kn)

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 36. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN   1368-485X
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Wings of Change (2011). "Tsunami" . Retrieved 25 November 2016.