Grimace
Well-Known Member
Allow me to preface this by saying I'm not constantly changing my mind. I've had my single-seat sport plane on the drafting table for years and it's ultimately something that I want. I am simply exploring other projects which may also interest me either now or else sometime down the line. And by the grace of you fine folks, I'm certainly learning a lot, which is greatly appreciated and acknowledged. Now with that said... let's talk ultralight sailplanes.
What I would want is something more traditional than the BUG and Goat "flying lawn chairs". In fact, I would want it to look as traditional as possible. I love the long gentle curves of modern sailplanes.
Questions I have...
What kind of airfoils are common to microlight sailplanes? What details make them particularly good for a sailplane?
Sailplanes seem to have a larger tail volume than powered planes. Usually this seems to be accomplished with a smaller surface set at a greater distance from the CG. I assume this is for efficiency. How do the factors influencing the size and placement of the tail on a glider differ from those of a powered plane?
What means are there for attaching a tow rope to a glider? What types of forces are generated at this point?
Are there any books on sailplane design? It seems to me that there must be a lot of "conventional wisdom" which is unique to sailplanes...
What kind of specs would you expect for a "modern style" (FG and carbon enclosed cockpit, wings of unspecified construction, with a tail boom) ultralight glider?
What I would want is something more traditional than the BUG and Goat "flying lawn chairs". In fact, I would want it to look as traditional as possible. I love the long gentle curves of modern sailplanes.
Questions I have...
What kind of airfoils are common to microlight sailplanes? What details make them particularly good for a sailplane?
Sailplanes seem to have a larger tail volume than powered planes. Usually this seems to be accomplished with a smaller surface set at a greater distance from the CG. I assume this is for efficiency. How do the factors influencing the size and placement of the tail on a glider differ from those of a powered plane?
What means are there for attaching a tow rope to a glider? What types of forces are generated at this point?
Are there any books on sailplane design? It seems to me that there must be a lot of "conventional wisdom" which is unique to sailplanes...
What kind of specs would you expect for a "modern style" (FG and carbon enclosed cockpit, wings of unspecified construction, with a tail boom) ultralight glider?
