Ruppert Archaeopteryx

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruppert_Archaeopteryx

The Ruppert Archaeopteryx (English: ancient wing) is a Swiss high-wing,
pod-and-boom, single-seat, microlift glider that was designed by Roger Ruppert
and is produced by Ruppert Composite GmbH.

The aircraft is named for the feathered Archaeopteryx dinosaur.

The Archaeopteryx was conceived as a foot-launchable microlift sailplane, with
the design goals of a light empty weight, low stall speed with gentle stall
characteristics, good maneuverability and good high speed performance. A further
goal was a sailplane that could be foot-launched in zero wind conditions.

The Archaeopteryx design started in 1998 at the Zurich University of Applied
Sciences (ZHW) as a research project. The first flight of the initial prototype
was in September 2001. Based on initial lessons the prototype was modified and
reflown in May 2002. Further flight tests and modifications were carried out,
with the prototype re-flying in its new form in March 2003. The production
prototype design was started in 2006 and completed in 2009. The first series
production started in the summer of 2009 and production deliveries to customers
commenced in May 2010. By the summer of 2012 ten aircraft had been delivered to
customers in Australia, Argentina, Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland.

The company is developing a prototype equipped with two electric motors to
provide self-launch capability.

The controls are conventional, with a stick for ailerons and elevator and rudder
pedals. The aircraft uses flaps for glidepath control, which function as
airbrakes when set to 45-70 degrees. A ballistic parachute with an area of 62 m2
(670 sq ft) is also fitted. The aircraft can be rigged for flight by one person
in 15 minutes. It has been launched by foot, aero-tow, bungee launch, auto-tow
and winch-launch and has been landed on its wheel and foot-landed as well.

The aircraft can accommodate pilots from 165 to 195 cm (65 to 77 in) in height
and 55 to 100 kg (121 to 220 lb).

Electric propulsion was introduced in mid-2014 and allows self-launching. A
handful have been sold (and some were retrofitted to earlier sold models).
Takeoff roll distance is 50 m (160 ft) and rate of climb when fully charged is
2.5 m/s (8.2 ft/s). It can run at full power for 11 minutes on one charge. The
electrical motor uses 10.5 kW at 3800 rpm, and the propeller delivers 37 daN
when flying at 75 km/h. Storage is a 14s1p lithium polymer battery (Kokam) with
40 Ah capacity, delivering 2.07 kWh, maximum 58.8 V and maximum continuous
current of 200 amps.


Role
Glider

National origin
Switzerland

Manufacturer
Ruppert Composite GmbH

Designer
Roger Ruppert

First flight
September 2001

Introduction
2001

Status
In series production

Produced
2010-present

Number built
18 (February 2017)

Unit cost

€51,500 Standard; €57,500 Race; €72,000 Electro (2018 base prices)


Variants

Archaeopteryx Standard
Basic design without cockpit fairing

Archaeopteryx Performance
Basic design, with cockpit fairing; no longer in production

Archaeopteryx Race
Basic design, with cockpit fairing and windshield

Archaeopteryx Electro
Race version with electrical propulsion

Specifications (Standard)

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 5.7 m (18 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 13.6 m (44 ft 7 in)
Height: 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Wing area: 12.8 m2 (138 sq ft)
Empty weight: 54 kg (119 lb)
Gross weight: 160 kg (353 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 191 kg (421 lb)

Performance
Cruise speed: 57.5 km/h (36 mph; 31 kn)
Stall speed: 30–39 km/h (19–24 mph; 16–21 kn)
Never exceed speed: 130 km/h (81 mph; 70 kn)
g limits: +4.0 / -2.0 at 130 km/h and +5.1 / -3.1 at 100 km/h
Maximum glide ratio: 28:1
Rate of sink: 0.5 m/s (98 ft/min)

Avionics

Flytec 6030 GPS w/ Flarm





*