Jet sailplane photos

Photos from Wednesday's photo mission. I flew formation
with Clayton Stansell's Cessna 175 for about 35 minutes.
The twin AT-450's only required about 50% thrust to
keep the sailplane in the formation at 80 MPH indicated
(about 92 MPH true) at 7000' MSL. Photos by Bill Pearson
of High Altitude Video & Photography.

http://www.silentwingsairshows.com/p...up_front_m.jpg
http://www.silentwingsairshows.com/p...eup_side_m.jpg
http://www.silentwingsairshows.com/p...bleweeds_m.jpg
http://www.silentwingsairshows.com/p.../sunwing_m.jpg

Bob C.

Love it. A glider named "Silent" with jet engines!

"Bob C" wrote in message
...
Photos from Wednesday's photo mission. I flew formation
with Clayton Stansell's Cessna 175 for about 35 minutes.
The twin AT-450's only required about 50% thrust to
keep the sailplane in the formation at 80 MPH indicated
(about 92 MPH true) at 7000' MSL. Photos by Bill Pearson
of High Altitude Video & Photography.

http://www.silentwingsairshows.com/p...up_front_m.jpg
http://www.silentwingsairshows.com/p...eup_side_m.jpg
http://www.silentwingsairshows.com/p...bleweeds_m.jpg
http://www.silentwingsairshows.com/p.../sunwing_m.jpg

Bob C.

Love it. A glider named "Silent" with jet engines!

Stealth Glider! ...cool

Hey, I didn't name it. Considering its Italian origins,
I was thinking of putting 'nazzo' in front of Silent
;o)

Actually, when I passed over the airport at 1000' in
formation, the guys on the ground said mostly they
heard the Cessna. They said after we were well past,
they caught a little bit of the jet exhaust 'whoosh'.

Bob

At 18:54 04 November 2005, Gail wrote:


Love it. A glider named 'Silent' with jet engines!

Stealth Glider! ...cool

The name Silent is due to the fact, that it was the first self launching
sailplane with an electric motor. Now the machine is awailable as a glider,
as SLS with electric motor, as SL with 2-stroke motor and one blade prop and
as a glider with two jet engines. There is no other machine as the Silent on
all the world. Please have a look at www.alisport.com . Congratulation
Italien boys!

George

"Gail" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...


Love it. A glider named "Silent" with jet engines!

Stealth Glider! ...cool

See the video he http://www.usamt.com/videos/Jet%20Glider.wmv

wiktor256 wrote:
See the video he http://www.usamt.com/videos/Jet%20Glider.wmv

That's the future for self launch.
Rich

"rich" wrote in message
oups.com...

wiktor256 wrote:
See the video he http://www.usamt.com/videos/Jet%20Glider.wmv

That's the future for self launch.
Rich


Sure, once they figure out a way to make them quiet, fuel efficient and with
a decent climb rate. I understand they'll roast a mean hot dog, if you like
the flavor of Jet A (g).

bumper
Minden
ASH26E (rotary powered :c)

Better videos at:
http://www.silentwingsairshows.com/video.html

Click on 'Jet sailplane airshow video'

To answer the issues of noise, fuel efficiency and
climb rate; as I stated in a previous post on this
thread, at 800-1000' AGL, the jet sailplane was much
quieter than the Cessna 175 camera plane. In fact,
I'd wager it's quieter than a rotary powered ASH-26.
Fuel burn is still high, but because of the jet's
preference for higher speeds, I'm able to cruise for
an hour at 95 MPH on 10 gallons. That's a fairly reasonable
9.5 MPG.

Climb rate is 450 ft/min at sea level (at 75 MPH).
I routinely self-launch from Moriarty at 6200' MSL
on hot summer afternoons.

I'll be the first to admit that the jet sailplane is
still under development. However, the engines are
improving at a rapid pace, and there are advatages
that are already very apparent, such as light weight,
low drag when starting/stopping, twin engine reliability
(yes, it will fly on one engine), no vibration and
a simple extend/retract sequence (soon to be a one-button
operation). The engines can be changed out in 15 minutes
with only a screwdriver and an allen wrench, and Fedexed
in a breadbox.

It really will roast a hot dog, and it really will
taste like jet-A. I just use lots of mustard, onions
and relish ;o)

Bob C.



At 02:06 15 November 2005, Bumper wrote:

'rich' wrote in message
roups.com...

wiktor256 wrote:
See the video he http://www.usamt.com/videos/Jet%20Glider.wmv

That's the future for self launch.
Rich


Sure, once they figure out a way to make them quiet,
fuel efficient and with
a decent climb rate. I understand they'll roast a mean
hot dog, if you like
the flavor of Jet A (g).

bumper
Minden
ASH26E (rotary powered :c)

I've seen the Silent jet fly a few times in Arizona and have to agree
that it's quieter than most piston-engine planes - certainly much more
so than our tow planes.

However, these small jets probably need to be made easier to use -
starting currently looks a bit finicky - and more powerful. On a hot
Arizona day, I'd need four of the little suckers to get me comfortably
airborne.

I have to agree that they could have an interesting future.

Mike