Ultrabatics: ultra light, ultra maneuverable, ultra durable gliders that enable a new level of unlimited aerobatic performance in slope soaring.
The glider is Le Fish, an open source design developed by Steve 'Surfimp' Lange (me) in the USA with lots of inspiration from the French VTPR tradition (voltige très près du relief / "aerobatics very close to the ground") as well as the tremendously influential Madslide of Benoit Paysant-Le Roux aka BPLR.
Plans and more info here: www.slopeaerobatics.com/le-fis...
Le Fish kits available here: leadingedgegliders.com/catalog...
This Le Fish has a 60" (1.5m) wingspan and weighs 17oz (480g). The wingloading is 5oz./sq.ft. (15 g/dm2). It can fly with full aerobatic performance in as little as 6-7mph (10kph) at a decent slope and absolutely shreds when the wind gets to 8-10mph (12-16kph).
This ultralight version of the plane is constructed following techniques pioneered by "Swiss Peter" Richner of Switzerland. The airframe is EPP with lightweight carbon fiber spars and uses 6mm Depron tail and aileron surfaces. The entire airframe is covered in lightweight and inexpensive laminating film. The result is an extremely light and durable airplane capable of being treated like a skateboard for the sky.
The elevator is inspired by BPLR's Madslide, and is full-flying and capable of 180º rotation (90º each way). This is what enables the plane to do tight flips around its center of gravity. Exponential and dual rates are used to make the plane comfortable to fly; on low rates it feels like any other slope glider, but on high rates you can flip easily just by giving full elevator deflection.
Soundtrack is "Black Hills" by local Santa Barbara band Gardens & Villa. Learn more about them here: www.gardensandvilla.com/
13 фев 2013
