Innovative Aircraft

[Hank]

Cut from an email, it seems that experimental aviation is still alive in Europe. How about a retractable glider?

Amazing Newfangled Sailplanes

 

 

This Sailplane is…

Foot Launchable

Ground Launchable

Ground towable

Air towable and...

Foot Landable!

The engineering is just awesome.  http://player.vimeo.com/video/39325401

 

[RJBrown]

My favorite launch was the tow launch behind a powered hang glider. Looks like a fun toy!

[Oscar Avalle]

Really nice

[chrisk]

I wonder what the stall speed is.  Va is ~45 kts, which seems so slow, but maybe that is normal for a glider.   Vne is ~70 kts!

 

And for regulations, wouldn't this qualify as an ultralight? 

 

Love the bungee cord launch

[davidsguerra]

Looks cool. reminds me of the bicycle powered airplane that  crossed the channel when i was young. ? icarus maybe?

I would hate to do a quartering tailwind landing on feet.

 

the Swiss sure know how to engineer stuff that works.

[jlunseth]

Really beautiful!  What a great way to practice wing aerodynamics.  And no fuel cost or engine maintenance.

[rbridges]

with the feet sticking out, it looks like a glider designed by Fred Flintstone.  

[Jeff_S]

Me want one! I especially liked the bungee-catapult shot or whatever that was. Who says naval aviators have all the fun?!

[Hank]

with the feet sticking out, it looks like a glider designed by Fred Flintstone.

You would certainly win the short takeoff contest, was it two steps or three? :-)

[kerry]

with the feet sticking out, it looks like a glider designed by Fred Flintstone.  

yabba dabba doo

[Joe Zuffoletto]

Very cool! And only $83,000 at today's exchange rate!

 

Real catchy name, too. Slides off the tongue.

[aviatoreb]

At annual for landing gear rubber replacement, you buy new sneakers.

[yvesg]

I looked at their pricing structure and... they will not sell too many at that price.

Yves

[aviatoreb]

Is it fadec?

[Danb]

dudes not right!!!  but the pix's are awesome

[RocketAviator]

Nice indeed. Flown in glider once I could get hooked very quickly I'm afraid!

Did anyone else notice the rainbow / shadow when the flew near the clouds.... Those clouds most likely will have ice... Also notice when they flew above the cloud layer, or is it just me?

[1964-M20E]

Sweet looks like a lot of fun let me see if I have an extra $85k in my back pocket.  Oh not today went to Bourbon street last night and blew it in a strip club.  Oh wait that was Justin. 

 

Living in flat land down here soaring for a long time might be more of a challenge however, the birds do it.

 

Could you call it a hang glider?

 

I wonder if ATC would give you block altitudes on and IFR flight plan.