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Aviation History
1982
1982 - 0559.PDF
IE ^m Rutan's Grizzly bared LATEST airborne design from the prolific Rutan Aircraft Factory (RAF) is the Model 72 Grizzly, now flying at Mojave, reports Bill Sweetman. While previous Rutan designs have ex ploited the tandem-wing or canard configuration in pursuit of cruising efficiency, the Grizzly is designed to use it as a means of attaining very slow flying speeds. Unlike previous tandem-wing air craft, the Grizzly has very large slot ted Fowler flaps, increasing chord by about 50 per cent. The forward flaps are nearly as large as the rear flaps; it is hoped in this way to prevent exces sive changes in pitch trim with flap operation, something which has pre vented the installation of flaps on tandem-wing types such as Rutan's VariEze and LongEze. The Grizzly aerofoils and high-lift systems have been designed according to a new RAF computer program which handles the complex interaction be tween the front and rear wings and flaps. Other details of the Grizzly include fuel-carrying booms connecting the two wings (similar in principle to those of the Rutan-designed Voyager global aircraft), which provide safe fuel stowage and torsional stiffness for the swept-forward front wing. It has a unique feature for a Rutan de sign: a tailplane, or rather a tabbed all-moving stabiliser, with consider able area and moment arm. Two small trim or control surfaces are located at the root of the front wing. The aircraft is a four-seater and is powered by a four-cylinder 180 h.p. Lycoming IO-360-B. The structure is designed to compare "traditional" Rutan techniques with some newer RAF ideas: the port wing has a full foam core, as on the VariEze, while the starboard wing is a hollow struc ture of stressed sandwich skins, more like Voyager. The cabin windows are bulged to allow a downward view between the wings, an indication of the very low forward speeds of which the Grizzly should be capable. Mike Melvill of RAF stresses to Flight that the Grizzly has "very low priority. We work on it when we have nothing else to do, and if we run into serious aerodynamic problems it may be some time before we get around to tackling them." The announcement of the Grizzly roll-out likewise stressed that the RAF's priorities are the Model 61 LongEze and the Model 77 Solitaire self-launching sailplane, and that the Grizzly is not expected to lead directly to a homebuilt or to a pro duction aircraft. The Grizzly is a pure research air craft, rather akin to the Handley Page Gugnunc of the late 1920s: its aim is to explore slow flight regimes and generate a data base on the applica tion of large flaps to a canard air craft. This could be used on future Rutan designs, possibly including an amphibious aircraft. As first flown from Mojave, the Grizzly has twin low- pressure tyres on a "bush-type" land ing gear, but it is hoped that it will be slow enough to be fitted with a new type of amphibian under carriage using non-retractable wheels. Such an aircraft would be cheaper, simpler, and safer to operate than traditional amphibians, which suffer a high proportion of accidents owing to wrongly positioned landing gear. ;tMl«JW Private [FynKfir Official organ of the Royal Aero Club Briefings... In Germany, Akaflieg Stuttgart students are now flying their latest sailplane, the Fs-31 two-seater, With a span of 17-5m the wing is from the Twin Astir, and the tail unit is a mix of carbonfibre and Kevlar construc tion. Empty weight is about 340kg, take-off weight around 560kg. As forecast in Flight for January 23, Glasfliigel has closed down and is now unlikely to re-open production. The photograph of the Leopard miniature business jet design in our February 13 issue was by M. W. Kent. Aerospatiale's light aircraft division, Socata, claims a 35 per cent penetra tion of the 160 to 195 h.p. aircraft market in France for 1981, compared with 24 in 1980, and a 26 per cent penetration of the European market compared with 1980's 19 per cent. Sales of the TB (Tobago and Tampico) series in 1981 were 128 to Europe and 38 outside; 41 of the Rallye series were sold in Europe and five outside. Socata's production forecast for this year is 160 aircraft, 140 of which will be in the Tobago/Tampico/Trinidad series. The Air Education and Recreation Organisation (Aero), which aims to encourage air-mindedness among young people, is planning a series of summer aviation study courses close to regional airports. The second Aero summer course in aeronautics is aimed at people between 15-17 years old, and will be held at Sywell Air port, Northampton, from July 24-31. Fee is £125 including accommodation, one hour's powered flying and some glider flying. For details contact Aero at the Teachers Study Centre, 118 Upper Chobham Road, Camberley, Surrey. Main display days for the Shuttle- worth Collection this year are April 12, May 30, July 25 and September 26. Contact Old Warden Aerodrome, Beds; telephone 076 727 288. Robin's second R3I40 prototype has completed some SOhr flying to date. Wing design is now finished, and is clearly inspired by the classic Jodel cranked wing. Certification could be completed by early next year FLIGHT International, 6 March 1982 533
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