Aériane SWIFT
The glider aériane swift ( S wept W ing with I nboard F lap T rim ) was originally a rigid hang glider designed which, however, should significantly exceed their flight performance. The design was based on a collaboration between Bright Star Gliders, Ilan Kroo, a Stanford University professor, and a group of students.
Takeoff and landing
The Swift can be started in a number of ways.
- Foot launch on a slope like a hang glider
- Take off on wheels for winch towing or microlight aircraft towing.
The Swift is picked up at the foot launch. The weight of the device rests on the shoulders. To take off, the pilot runs down a slope with the device and accelerates until the wing carries him and lifts him off the ground. The pilot is held in a kind of hammock. After taking off, he retracts his legs, the floor area of the pilot fairing is then closed with a flexible rubber door.
Landing can also be done on the feet. Usually, however, the landing takes place on a wheel and a runner, both of which are integrated into the pilot's fairing.
flight
In flight, the Swift, like most aircraft, is controlled by three axes. A sidestick is used to control the transverse and longitudinal axes; control around the vertical axis with foot pedals. To improve the glide angle at higher speeds, the pilot can also move the center of gravity by moving his body forward. The glide angle can be reduced by operating the two rudders in the winglets in opposite directions and also by using spoilers . A special feature, however, is the first-time use of weight-free flaps in a standard flying wing , which the machine owes its name to.
variants
The Swift is a glider (i.e., a foot launchable glider). However, there are variants as two-seater ( Tandem Swift ) and motor glider ( Swift-PAS ), which differ only in the fuselage part. Later a lighter version of the Swift'Lite wing was developed.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Swift'Lite data |
|---|---|
| span | 12.8 m |
| Wing area | 12.6 m² |
| Elongation | 13 |
| Glide ratio | 27 at 60–70 km / h |
| Slightest sinking | 0.6 m / s at 45 km / h |
| Empty mass | 48 kg |
| Minimum speed | 32 km / h (flaps: 20 °) |
| Top speed | 120 km / h |
See also
literature
- Ilan Kroo, Eric Beckman, Brian Robbins, Steve Morris, Brian Porter: Development of the SWIFT - A Tailless Foot-Launched Sailplane . Aeronautics Department, Stanford University, January 1991.