On Aug 3, 12:50*pm, Bill D wrote:
I would very seriously consider a covered trailer - at least as an option..
Absolutely! It's just that the covered trailer wouldn't be part of the
base package. The customer can convert the open trailer to covered by
skinning the sides and assembling the optional clamshell top.
If the glider is made extremely easy to rig, many will consider a covered
trailer a hangar on wheels and rig every day they fly...
That is as intended. The controls will be auto-connecting, too.
A side-by-side fuselage could easily accommodate two main wheels
making the fuselage self-stable thus eliminating the ubiquitous fuselage
dolly and jack-able ramp...
I'd have to take that under advisement. It would give this glider
different touchdown handling, especially in crosswinds. That's not bad
in and of itself, but may prove an obstacle to transition training to
single-place gliders or higher-performance twins.
*A hard points with 1/2-13 threaded holes at each wing panel CG allows a
compact one-man rigging dolly's no bigger than a wing stand. *The hard points
also serve as tie-down points. A one-wheel wing tip dolly would allow walking
the wings out of the trailer without lifting. As long as the tailplane is easily
handled by one person, you have a easy one-man rig-able glider.
That's a good idea. Threaded hard points could be used for trailering
fixtures as well. Glider finishes, even urethanes, can bubble when
exposed to moisture trapped between dollies and the paint.
This is a particularly fitting time to consider producing a new 2-seat trainer.
*I think the market in the US is at least 400 gliders considering the demise
of the L-13's and the rapidly shrinking Schweizer fleet combined with
(hopefully) resumed growth in soaring. Internationally, the ASK-21 is the
most popular trainer which, while excellent, is a 1980 design. *The world
market could be in excess of 1000 units
I hope that is so. I think I would have to sell at least 150 units to
amortize the tooling and development. At today's rate of US training
glider consumption, that is still a tough proposition. So this would
have to be a good glider for joyrides and sightseeing as well.
Thanks, Bob K.
http://www.hpaircraft.com
https://www.facebook.com/AuroraTrainingSailplaneProject