Akaflieg Stuttgart FS-18

Akaflieg Stuttgart FS-18
Role Glider aircraft
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Akaflieg Stuttgart
First flight 21 July 1938
Number built 1


|} The Akaflieg Stuttgart FS-18 was a glider designed and built in Germany from 1938. It was characterized by a gull wing. Only one example of the design was constructed.

Development

With the experience gained from the Rhön gliding competitions, the students at Akaflieg Stuttgart (Akademische Fliegergruppe – academic flying group) designed the FS-18, which was able to turn tightly in thermals and had a relatively low sink rate, over the six months preceding the next Rhön competition at Wasserkuppe. The result was the FS-18 which was a high-wing cantilever monoplane with gulled centre section, to ensure that the wings joined the fuselage at 90 degrees, rectangular midsection and tapered outer section. Flaps were fitted to the trailing edge of the midsection to 30% chord, and ailerons were mounted on the trailing edges of the outer wing sections. The fuselage consisted of the cockpit pod smoothly narrowing to a boom-like rear fuselage supporting the tail unit. The mono-wheel undercarriage was manually retractable into an enclosed wheel well. After the first flight on 21 July 1938, testing of the FS-18 continued until 7 December 1938 when the FS-18 crashed, killing pilot Ernst Scheible.

Specifications

Data from http://www.uni-stuttgart.de/akaflieg/index.php?id=43&L=2

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 8.7 m (28 ft 7 in)
  • Wingspan: 18 m (59 ft 1 in)
  • Height: 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
  • Wing area: 18 m2 (194 ft2)
  • Aspect ratio: 18
  • Wing profile: NACA 23018 - NACA 23012
  • Empty weight: 215 kg (474 lb)
  • Gross weight: 315 kg (695 lb)

Performance

  • G limits: 10
  • Maximum glide ratio: 26.9

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

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