Blanik America leaves a little to be desired in terms of website quality, for sure ;-)

For that matter, all the glider manufacturers websites are fairly poor to be honest.

Sean

On Monday, October 21, 2013 2:36:51 PM UTC-4, Sean F (F2) wrote:
Paul,



I just got an email back from Vytas (owner of Lak factory). Here is his statement: "MAX mass remains 600 kg as 18 m class mass, as no space for more water."



That makes sense to me. I think there is ZERO chance the ASG29 will ever get 21 meter tips OR 800kg max weight as its wing is simply not designed for the loads (just like the 17b). Also, the 18 meter tips barely fit in the trailer. Makes me wonder how the Lak17b could fit all these wingtips in a trailer as well. Anyway, the requirement for a 21 meter single for Schleicher has been fulfilled by the ASG 31.



Info on ASG31 --- http://www.alexander-schleicher.de/p...h31_main_e.htm



The 31, as with most motor gliders, has too much wing loading in 18 meter configuration when flying in weak lift. It is better at 21 meters where it can go to 700 kg and 10.8 lbs/sqft wing loading (no, not 800!). Min wing loading looks to be about 8.82 (with a 200 lb pilot) in 18 meter and 8.09 in 21 meter.



Hope this helps to answer your questions on the Schleicher's.



Sean





On Monday, October 21, 2013 1:20:15 PM UTC-4, Paul T wrote:

No specs on the website yet - but announced on Blanik America site and in



the article on the Mini Lak on their news pages about the tips.







I'm presuming you can fly at 15. 18 and 21m with the same ship? Which will



probably make it a popular ship in the US- and agree with Sean bargain



and piloting points.







Upping to 850 kg probably not on- but maybe around the 650-700kg mark?



which would probably give it a similar wing loading to the JS1 with the



smaller wing area.







Now I wonder if the asg 29 is going to be tipped to 21m? (I know its a



tipped 27! and they have the ASH 31).















At 16:36 21 October 2013, John Galloway wrote:



You mean 850Kg?







If a 21m Lak 17B were to have a wing area similar to the



12.25m2 of the JS1C 21m then at 850kg MAUW it would have a



wingloading of over 69kg/m2! I am not sure where the water



would go. With the JS1C 21m you need to fill the wings, the



21m tips, have fuselage tanks full of water or fuel and a not too



lightweight pilot to get to the MAUW 720kg and 59kg/m2







Furthermore an 21m Lak 17 is likely to have an even smaller



wing area (and ?less water capacity) because the 18m Lak has



a wing area of 10.32m2 compared to 11.21m2 for an 18m JS1.







John Galloway



















At 15:32 21 October 2013, Sean F F2 wrote:



They need a strong US (or Canadian) pilot RACING the glider



in US contests.



Period.







The Uvalde and Euro pilots have not been top shelf. JS1 is



better



connected and has many top pilots flying their hardware in



contrast.







I agree the 21 meter version needs to be at 850 if it is going



to be



seriously competitive at a world level BUT...in the US east



coast contest



environment it would probably be just fine if it was not able to



achieve



850.







I'll check and see what the specs say on the website...