Frank Whiteley
May 24th 07, 06:15 AM
Cockpit load is 551lbs minus weight of non-lifting components. It can
be well over 250lbs.
Frank Whiteley
On May 23, 12:14 pm, Chris Reed > wrote:
> I have a German Cirrus (the "Open" is not part of the official name, but
> was added by most when the baby version came along) and a friend has a
> VTC model. Both have the full VNE, so it's worth considering one
> depending on what VNE is where you are situated. I've flown both, and
> there's no appreciable difference between them.
>
> The first place to start ishttp://classicsailplane.org/Cirrus/where
> you'll find a directory, pictures and newsletters - lots of information.
>
> The Cirrus is a 1967 aircraft, first generation glass. It's very strong
> (wings tested by the LBA to 15g I understand) and mine, which was
> re-gelled a few years back, looks pretty much as good as new. Handling
> is good, the cockpit is wide (though tight for tall pilots who are long
> in the body but great for long legs), and I work on 40:1 L/D which I
> find on the conservative side.
>
> This is not a glider for rushing around in - the aim is to travel long
> distances in a stately fashion. Cruise is 50-65 kt (but better at
> 50-55), landing around 50 kt, etc. etc. Follow the energy, turn as
> little as possible, and you can cruise long distances. Excellent for
> weak days - my first 300k flight was made with a 3,500ft cloudbase and
> thermal averages around 3 kt.
>
> Stall is around 36kt, VNE 118 kt (but you don't want to fly that fast),
> rough air the same, max winch launch 59kt, max aerotow 74kt. Cockpit min
> weight depends on history, but on the ones I've seen seem to average
> around 165lb. Max is the standard 242lb (from memory).
>
> Because of the age of the design, and the solid build, the wings are
> comparatively heavy. However, I rig mine solo with simple aids (trestles
> and a mid-wing dolly) and it took me 25 mins to rig today and 20 to pack
> away in its trailer.
>
> I'm delighted with mine, because it suits my style of flying. If you
> want to scream around at 100kt, it's probably not the glider for
> you.It's a real distance machine - as a working rule, if you can see it,
> you can glide to it.
>
> Paul Hanson wrote:
> > I have a long time love affair with the Open Cirrus.
> > I have almost bought one on three separate occasions,
> > and am starting to get the itch again (Sunship Game
> > fever).
> > Can anyone provide me with complete performance specs
> > and operational limitations for this aircraft (not
> > terribly interested in the VTC made version since it
> > had a lower VNE and load ratings due to manufacturing
> > anomalies, but I suppose it would be neat to know for
> > the sake of comparison). I would like to know a lot
> > more about this plane than I currently do, and although
> > I have done a fair amount of homework on this type
> > I'm hungry for more info, much more info.
>
> > Paul Hanson
>
> > "Do the usual, unusually well"--Len Niemi
be well over 250lbs.
Frank Whiteley
On May 23, 12:14 pm, Chris Reed > wrote:
> I have a German Cirrus (the "Open" is not part of the official name, but
> was added by most when the baby version came along) and a friend has a
> VTC model. Both have the full VNE, so it's worth considering one
> depending on what VNE is where you are situated. I've flown both, and
> there's no appreciable difference between them.
>
> The first place to start ishttp://classicsailplane.org/Cirrus/where
> you'll find a directory, pictures and newsletters - lots of information.
>
> The Cirrus is a 1967 aircraft, first generation glass. It's very strong
> (wings tested by the LBA to 15g I understand) and mine, which was
> re-gelled a few years back, looks pretty much as good as new. Handling
> is good, the cockpit is wide (though tight for tall pilots who are long
> in the body but great for long legs), and I work on 40:1 L/D which I
> find on the conservative side.
>
> This is not a glider for rushing around in - the aim is to travel long
> distances in a stately fashion. Cruise is 50-65 kt (but better at
> 50-55), landing around 50 kt, etc. etc. Follow the energy, turn as
> little as possible, and you can cruise long distances. Excellent for
> weak days - my first 300k flight was made with a 3,500ft cloudbase and
> thermal averages around 3 kt.
>
> Stall is around 36kt, VNE 118 kt (but you don't want to fly that fast),
> rough air the same, max winch launch 59kt, max aerotow 74kt. Cockpit min
> weight depends on history, but on the ones I've seen seem to average
> around 165lb. Max is the standard 242lb (from memory).
>
> Because of the age of the design, and the solid build, the wings are
> comparatively heavy. However, I rig mine solo with simple aids (trestles
> and a mid-wing dolly) and it took me 25 mins to rig today and 20 to pack
> away in its trailer.
>
> I'm delighted with mine, because it suits my style of flying. If you
> want to scream around at 100kt, it's probably not the glider for
> you.It's a real distance machine - as a working rule, if you can see it,
> you can glide to it.
>
> Paul Hanson wrote:
> > I have a long time love affair with the Open Cirrus.
> > I have almost bought one on three separate occasions,
> > and am starting to get the itch again (Sunship Game
> > fever).
> > Can anyone provide me with complete performance specs
> > and operational limitations for this aircraft (not
> > terribly interested in the VTC made version since it
> > had a lower VNE and load ratings due to manufacturing
> > anomalies, but I suppose it would be neat to know for
> > the sake of comparison). I would like to know a lot
> > more about this plane than I currently do, and although
> > I have done a fair amount of homework on this type
> > I'm hungry for more info, much more info.
>
> > Paul Hanson
>
> > "Do the usual, unusually well"--Len Niemi