On Saturday, April 11, 2020 at 4:51:34 PM UTC+1, Martin Gregorie wrote:
On Sat, 11 Apr 2020 08:10:55 -0700, Muttley wrote:

There was a project in the UK for a UL Glider driven by a Motorised Main
Wheel and a Jet. Website still up at
http://www.proairsport.com/project-glow.php However do no think it ever
got of the Ground.

I think it was taxiied and have a feeling that was without wings fitted.

But UL? Its empty weight, 180 kg, is the same as the Diana 2.

--
Martin | martin at
Gregorie | gregorie dot org

I'd be interested to hear some reasons from the peanut armchair-aircraft-designer gallery as to why electric main wheels haven't "taken off" - seems like it would be a big win for both electric gliders in reduced launch energy, and solve the static thrust problem for jet self launchers?
The biggest problem I see is you'd need to have the main wheel a long way forwards, or a nose wheel to not pitch over on the belly?