Eta (airplane)
| Eta | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | Glider |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: |
Eta aircraft |
| First flight: |
July 31, 2000 |
| Number of pieces: |
6 (+ 1 nimeta) |
The Eta (spelling: eta ) is a self-launching two-seater glider with a wingspan of 30.90 m in the open class . The world's largest and most powerful sports glider has a best glide ratio of around 70.
history
The first models
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First three Eta were built. In September 2003 the second prototype crashed during flight tests after structural failure. The aircraft was outside of the flight envelope provided during construction . Both pilots were able to save themselves with the parachute . The first prototype was then changed and the flight tests continued without any problems.
The aircraft was handcrafted in small series. The plan was to produce three aircraft per year, six have been built so far. In addition, another pair of wings with component number 7 was completed and a JAA Form One was exhibited as a replacement .
Nimeta
On July 21, 2009, the first flight of the "Nimeta" took place. The aircraft was commissioned by the glider world champion Bruno Gantenbrink , who already owns an "Eta", to be completed by the company Glasfaser-Flugzeug-Service GmbH Hansjörg stripeder over a two-year development and construction period .
The Nimeta is a motor glider with a modified fuselage of the Nimbus-4 and its horizontal stabilizer as well as an Eta wing - component number 7 manufactured as a replacement. When combining the fundamentally different mechanics of fuselage and wing, the wing-fuselage connection was redesigned and the vertical stabilizer enlarged by 20%.
The engine system was completely taken over from the Ventus / Nimbus system and assembled by Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau .
On May 17, 2012, the aircraft crashed during flight tests from Aalen-Elchingen airfield, and the test pilot was able to save himself with a parachute. The Nimeta was repaired and has been flying again since October 17, 2014. In the meantime, new shapes have been manufactured at the aircraft manufacturing company in strips and a slimmer outer wing has been manufactured without the typical depth jump. On June 29, 2017, the first flight of the Nimeta with the new outer wing took place at Mengen airfield.
Placements in competitions
The machine first attracted attention in 2003 at the World Championships in Leszno . Janusz Centka was able to secure five daily victories and came second in the overall standings. Good placements were also achieved in other competitions.
In May 2009 Hans-Werner Grosse reached third place in the Open Class with an Eta in the Lüsse Cup.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 2 |
| length | 9.84 m |
| span | 30.90 m |
| Wing area | 18.6 m² |
| Wing extension | 51.33 |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 850 kg |
| Max. Wing loading | 45.7 kg / m² |
| Top speed | 280 km / h |
| Glide ratio | approx. 70 |
| Glider index | 125 |
| Engine | Solo 2625/2 with 47 kW |
See also
Web links
- Type certificate from Eta - EASA-TCDS-A.131 (PDF; 31 kB)
- Video of a deep flyby of the Eta
Individual evidence
- ↑ Investigation report 3X221-0 / 03. (PDF; 360 kB) In: bfu-web.de. Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation , October 2009, accessed on November 18, 2017 .
- ^ Project Nimeta - the world's largest single-seat motor sailor. In: streifly.de. Glasfaser-Flugzeug-Service GmbH, July 21, 2009, accessed on August 20, 2009 : "Bruno Gantenbrink took off on the 2-hour maiden flight"
- ↑ Pilot saves himself with the parachute. In: schwaebische-post.de. Schwäbische Post, May 17, 2012, accessed on May 18, 2012 : “When a 49-year-old pilot tested the new, not yet officially approved glider, a piece of the wing broke off. The machine crashed - next to the B25 near Wallerstein. The test flight started from the Elchingen airfield. "
- ↑ youtube.com
- ↑ SAIL FLYING: At 86 in the world's largest glider - Lüsse Cup and Bundesliga. (No longer available online.) In: Märkische Allgemeine. Märkische Verlags- und Druck-Gesellschaft mbH Potsdam, June 6, 2009, formerly in the original ; Retrieved July 5, 2009 . ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )