Engineering:Hermanspann Chinook

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Short description: American glider

Chinook
General information
TypeGlider
National originUnited States
Designer
Fred Hermanspann and Art Penz
Number builtOne
History
First flight1993

The Hermanspann Chinook is an American mid-wing, two-seat, experimental research glider that was designed and constructed by Fred Hermanspann and Art Penz.[1][2]

Design and development

The Chinook and its improved variant, the Chinook S, have been used to study the effect of rain on airfoils and also stall dynamics.[1]

The aircraft is predominantly made from aluminium with the cockpit area made from fiberglass. Its high aspect ratio wing has a 57 ft (17.4 m) span and employs a Wortmann FX67-K-170/17 airfoil. Glidepath control is via hydraulically operated trailing edge flaps that deflect 80°. The landing gear consists of hydraulically retractable nose and main gear. The vertical stabilizer is highly swept.[1][3]


Only one Chinook was constructed and it was registered with the US Federal Aviation Administration in the Experimental - Amateur-built category.[1][2]

Operational history

As of March 2015, the Chinook was still registered with the FAA to Hermanspann.[2]


Variants

Chinook
Original configuration, first flown in 1993.[1][2]
Chinook S
Improved configuration, first flown in 1996.[1]

Specifications (Chinook S)

Data from Sailplane Directory[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Wingspan: 57 ft (17 m)
  • Wing area: 143 sq ft (13.3 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 22.7
  • Airfoil: Wortmann FX67-K-170/17
  • Empty weight: 630 lb (286 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,050 lb (476 kg)

Performance

  • Maximum glide ratio: 40:1 at 61 mph (98 km/h)
  • Rate of sink: 144 ft/min (0.73 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 7.34 lb/sq ft (35.8 kg/m2)

See also

Related lists

References