I timed the takeoff by watching the altimeter and it appeared to be climbing 500 to 600 fpm.








On Saturday, July 23, 2016 at 12:28:36 AM UTC-7, Bruce Hoult wrote:
On Saturday, July 23, 2016 at 1:44:14 PM UTC+12, AS wrote:
On Friday, July 22, 2016 at 4:16:31 PM UTC-4, wrote:
Here are a couple of links from my latest project. The sailplane is a Richard Schreder HP-18 kit from the 70's that I built over the last 4 to 5 years. I am using twin Jetcat P300 turbines for self-launch and sustained flight. There are numerous modifications that have been incorporated into the aircraft including the turbine installation.

First flight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YepD4f9igW8 The best section is from 1:30 to 2:00 into the clip.

Colorado fly by: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9BjPPhgWxo Short take of a turbine fly by from Owl Canyon Colorado in June.

Cockpit self-launch and climb out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dsc3wvxr95Y Takeoff from our local soaring field in Wisconsin using the turbines.

Restart and fly by: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpgpWOG-9jI In flight turbine start and fly by.

Thanks,
Chris

Chris, thanks for sharing! Could you please post some photos of the jet installation? Inquiring minds want to know how you did it, i.e. are the jets retractable or do they stay outside?

The last video talked about retracting the engines once they cooled below 30 C (preferably 25 C). Which seems awfully cold. I can't imagine what bad would happen if they were 50 or 60.

There doesn't seem to be an excess of power. More like sustainer than self-launcher.

I was surprised how slowly the glider was flown during climb (60 knots). Effective power should be a lot higher at 80 or 90 knots (constant thrust), without a lot more airframe drag.

I was also surprised how low and slow and far out the end of downwind and base were flown, especially considering there was already flap out on downwind. And considering that HP18s can do very steep approaches. It's not an ASW12 :-)