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Dear All,
Pilots have asked me to comment on the latest
version of the V2ct glider, also the Avionic trailer in which it came to
Australia.
Firstly the Polish Avionic trailer is similar in
all respects with the Cobra brand except that it is some thousands of dollars
cheaper. It uses the same Alko trailer hitch and wheel suspension fittings
as the German trailers use. The trailer was delivered on time and I can
highly recommend it.
The Ventus was originally named V2cxT but the x
seems to have been dropped from the documentation. The main changes are in
the outer wing panels, the tailplane and a higher maximum wing
loading.
Can't tell you much about the tailplane changes
except that it is supposed to have a slighter slimmer profile.
The major changes are to the 18m outer panels (the
15m panels were not available when delivery was made). The new outer
panels have one less upward bend, terminate in winglets and incorporate 14lt
water tanks. This additional caapacity is of more importance in the
non-motorised version. The outer section immediately before the winglet
has a 1.2m aileron which moves upward in negative flap and aileron deflection
but does not go down below 0 deg. This ingenious arrangement ensures that
wing tip stall is not likely and probably assists with slower thermalling.
The inner panels appear to have been beefed up as mine weighs 69 and 70 kg,
heavier than the previous model.
The empty weight of the V2ct is now 350kg, add in
may case 100kg for pilot, parachute, fuel, oxygen, drinking water etc. and the
minimum flying weight is 450kg which is pretty heavy for a total wing area of
less than 11sqm It handles this pretty well but my feeling was that when
working 1kt at less than 1000ft which happens some times when launching at
10.00am summer time for a long flight, then the 15m LS8 with a wing only
slightly smaller and weighing 100kg less may have an edge.
The flaperon design assures a good rate of roll and
manevourability but the thin wings mean slight changes of attitude result in
substantial speed variations. It is as you would expect in a slippery
glider but requires regular attention. The trim is interconnected to the
flap lever and is self adjusting over the speed range and does not lend itself
to regular minor manual adjustment. Personally I prefer a trim control
which can be precisely set for the required speed but the arrangement is pretty
good and means one less in flight adjustment to make.
The maximum wing loading for the 18m version has
been increased to 51.5kg per sq.m from about 48. Is this a substantial
benefit? It should be for pilots flying gaggles or under very strong
conditions but my personal experience is that the previous maximum of about
48 is plenty for most conditions and that little is gained by flying
at max AUW, but time will tell.
I believe we owe a debt to the German glider
manufacturers. They are family operated businesses dedicated to making the
best gliders possible and none of them appear to be making great
profits.
Harry Medlicott.
P.S. I recently asked pilots to e-mail Rob
Moore at [EMAIL PROTECTED] to support the
introduction of an 18m record class. Very few pilots appear to have done
so. It would be a help if you e-mailed Rob before the March Sports
Committee meeting. H.
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