On Monday, October 10, 2016 at 11:15:10 AM UTC+2, krasw wrote:
On Monday, 10 October 2016 00:09:13 UTC+3, wrote:
On Facebook I have little knowledge. Just a dummy account to keep track of some sites.

I just read the FAI rulebook for Benalla. The 13.5 mtr class is having a wingload limit of 35 kg/m2. GPGlider is designing them for 32-60 kg/m2. Looks like the design might not be optimised for the current rules or the rules are changed by the FAI.

13.5m class 35kg/m2 wingloading has to be most stupid rule IGC has ever written (I know, there are serious contenders to this award). We have fantastic aerodynamic knowledge which allows us to fly modern gliders fast and comfortably with 50+ kg/m2 wingloading. 35 kg/m2 rule makes this class expensive club class, taking all the fun out of flying fast, plus it effectively bans all designs with engine, sans Silent (which has club class performance because of too big wing).

As a reference I like to add the link to the FAI rule book which were published on Oct 4, 2016 and which will be in effect in Benalla. http://www.fai.org/downloads/igc/SC3A_2016a
Page 18 highlights the limit to wingloading for the 13.5 mtr class. Or is anticipated that the rules will be revised before the summer of 2017? If not I understand the push in developing a 15mtr version. The package GPGlider is developing seems very attractive on paper (light groundhandling, good performance and a wide envelope of uses (also for 13.5 mtr) but with this restriction in place the 13.5 mtr is a lot less appealing.