The Sands Replica 1929 Primary Glider is an American
high-wing
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple wings.
A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing config ...
,
wire-braced single-seat,
primary glider
Primary glider aircraft, gliders are a category of aircraft that enjoyed worldwide popularity during the 1920s and 1930s as people strove for simple and inexpensive ways to learn to fly.Schweizer, Paul A: ''Wings Like Eagles, The Story of Soaring ...
that was designed by
Ron Sands Sr for
amateur construction, with kits supplied by
Wicks Aircraft Supply. The plans are now sold by Sands' son, Ron Sands Jr.
[Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 314. BAI Communications. ][Downey, Julia: ''2002 Plans Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 19, Number 1, January 2002, page 28. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851][Downey, Julia: ''2003 Plans Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 20, Number 1, January 2003, page 27. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851]
Design and development
Sands developed his replica 1929-style primary glider from the original designs of that era. He promotes it as "much safer than hang gliders or ultralights...
nexcellent project for school or clubs".
The aircraft is made from wood, tube and
doped aircraft fabric
Aircraft fabric covering is a term used for both the material used and the process of covering aircraft open structures. It is also used for reinforcing closed plywood structures. The de Havilland Mosquito is an example of this technique, as are ...
. Its span wing is cable-braced from a
king post and employs a
Clark Y
Clark Y is the name of a particular airfoil profile, widely used in general purpose aircraft designs, and much studied in aerodynamics over the years. The profile was designed in 1922 by Virginius E. Clark using thickness distribution of the Germa ...
airfoil
An airfoil (American English) or aerofoil (British English) is a streamlined body that is capable of generating significantly more Lift (force), lift than Drag (physics), drag. Wings, sails and propeller blades are examples of airfoils. Foil (fl ...
. Like all primary gliders the cockpit is just a seat mounted on the keel with no windshield fitted. The
landing gear
Landing gear is the undercarriage of an aircraft or spacecraft that is used for taxiing, takeoff or landing. For aircraft, it is generally needed for all three of these. It was also formerly called ''alighting gear'' by some manufacturers, s ...
is a fixed skid, fitted to the underside of the keel. The aircraft is designed to be
bungee launch
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word ''soaring'' is a ...
ed from a slope or
auto-tow
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word ''soaring'' is a ...
ed. The aircraft can be disassembled for storage or ground transportation.
Sands estimates that construction takes 200 hours. In 2011 plans cost
US$
The United States dollar (Currency symbol, symbol: Dollar sign, $; ISO 4217, currency code: USD) is the official currency of the United States and International use of the U.S. dollar, several other countries. The Coinage Act of 1792 introdu ...
40 and included two 24" by 36" (60 X 90 cm) sheets, a materials list and "Safety Tips". In 2015 the available Wicks five part kit totaled US$7644.14.
Variants
Plans for a steel tube
fuselage
The fuselage (; from the French language, French ''fuselé'' "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section. It holds Aircrew, crew, passengers, or cargo. In single-engine aircraft, it will usually contain an Aircraft engine, engine as wel ...
version are also available.
Specifications (1929 Primary Glider)
See also
References
External links
*
{{Sands aircraft
Replica 1929 Primary Glider
1980s United States sailplanes
Homebuilt aircraft
High-wing aircraft