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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 1466.PDF
"A new concept in sailplanes" is the Schweizer Aircraft Corporation's description of the 2-32 high-performance "touring" sailplane SPORT AND ^ TWO NEW SAILPLANES Each of the two new types of sailplane illustrated on this page is a significant development in its own sphere. From Elmira, New York, a two-seat answer for those seeking "gliding in comfort and joy"; from Kirbymoorside, Yorkshire, the long-awaited 15-metre British newcomer which should fly before the end of this year. The Schweuer 2-32 is designed to appeal to those coming to gliding from light power flying. In the USA, Paul Schweizer reports, "we are experiencing a big influx of power pilots to soaring. They are used to the large and well-appointed airplane cockpit. The 2-32 has been tailored to this requirement and, as you will notice, also permits taking two persons (maximum total weight 3001b) in the rear seat." A lift/drag ratio over 30 : 1 is claimed for the 2-32 and, "with wing smoothing and other drag-reducing steps," it is expected to be possible to increase this to 35 : 1. The company comments: "This performance makes it a good contest ship, as well as an excellent sailplane in which to win FAI Gold and Diamond C awards. Provision has been made for very complete instrument ation and complete radio installation." The 2-32 incorporates laminar-flow wings of 57ft span, 18.05 aspect ratio and 180 sq ft area. Speed-limiting divebrakes are fitted to the wings and all-metal monocoque construction is em ployed. Useful load is 5001b. The three-view drawing of the Slingsby 15-metre design is Flight International's interpretation of a perspective outline shown at the Glider Trade Fair at Lasham earlier this year. On that occasion Slingsby Sailplanes Ltd expressed the hope that the aircraft would "be available in production quantities in time for use next season." "Today," the company added, "the art of designing 15-metre sailplanes is highly advanced. There are several excellent designs available which have performances higher than could be obtained from 18-metre machines only a few years ago. "The preliminary design work on our new 15-metre machine has now been under way for several months. The estimates of performance and other essential preliminary calculations have 4* This unofficial general-arrangement drawing of the new Slingsby 15- metre sailplane has been prepared by a "Flight International" artist from a perspective silhouette, and is provisional been carried out in more detail than anything we have previously attempted. We believe we are justified in saying that the preliminary work has probably been more thorough, and carried out by more advanced methods, than that used for any other previous sailplane design. It is our earnest belief that this mass of preliminary work will result in a sailplane considerably in advance of anything available for the next few years." As indicated in the cockpit view, the Schweizer 2-32 can accommodate three persons. The taiiplane shown in the aircraft view has now been replaced by a tapered "stabilator." At present, work on the 2-32 is progressing in four phases: redesign and re-engineering for production; stress analysis and static tests to substantiate strength; flight tests to verify stability, performance and general handling characteristics; and production planning and tooling-up
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