| Airwave Gliders | |
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HW100 - 45000
UAW55 - 105000 RRW100 - 175000 PKRR - 7500 |
Airwave Gliders Airwave Gliders Company type - Privately held company Industry - Aerospace Founded - 1979 Defunct - circa 2009 Fate - Out of business Headquarters - Fulpmes, Austria Key people - Markus Villinger, Bruce Goldsmith Products - Hang gliders, paragliders Website - www.airwave-gliders.com Airwave Gliders was an Austrian aircraft manufacturer based on the Isle of Wight and later in Fulpmes. The company specialized in the design and manufacture of hang gliders and paragliders. The company was founded in 1979 and went out of business circa 2009. As of 2019, the Airwave website still exists, but it just refers visitors to Bruce Goldsmith Design for support for Airwave products. The company produced a wide range of aircraft including Bruce Goldsmith paraglider designs, such as the Airwave Magic, Scenic, Sport, Ten and the Wave. History Airwave was formed in 1979 in the United Kingdom as a hang glider manufacturer. Its early designs were flown by the leading British hang glider pilots to many World Hang Gliding Championships. Bruce Goldsmith started the paragliding division of the company's business in 1989. In 1997, John Pendry took first place in the World Paragliding Championships with an Airwave paraglider. Goldsmith later left Airwave to work for other companies. In November 1999, Markus Villinger bought the company and moved it to the Stubaital, Austria, located in the Central Eastern Alps region. He had previously run Wills Wing Europe, the distributor for Wills Wing hang gliders. Villinger persuaded Goldsmith to return to Airwave in May 2000 and his paraglider designs were produced by subcontractors. Goldsmith worked from his home in Gréolières, France, which has a climate that permits year-round paraglider flight. Villinger eventually sold the company and went into the field of real estate development instead. Villinger later bought the company back and relocated it to Fulpmes, where he produced his own hang glider designs and Goldsmith's paraglider designs. By 2008, company had ceased production of its own hang glider designs and became an importer of Wills Wing hang gliders, while continuing to have paragliders manufacturered by contractors. It seems to have gone out of business about 2009 as part of the Great Recession. As of 2016, Goldsmith was still providing technical support and spares for Airwave gliders, through his new company Bruce Goldsmith Design. Aircraft Summary of aircraft built by Airwave Gliders: 1) Paragliders Airwave Alpine Extreme Airwave Burn Airwave Gecko Airwave Kiss Airwave Logic Airwave Magic Airwave Mustang Airwave Scenic Airwave Slingshot Airwave Sport Airwave Ten Airwave Wave Airwave Magic Magic Role - Paraglider National origin - Austria Manufacturer - Airwave Gliders Designer - Bruce Goldsmith Status - Production completed The Airwave Magic is an Austrian single-place, paraglider that was designed by Bruce Goldsmith and produced by Airwave Gliders of Fulpmes. It is now out of production. Design and development The Magic was designed as a competition glider. The design progressed through several generations of models, including the Magic, Magic 2 and 3, each improving on the last. The three models are each named for their relative size. Operational history The designer, Bruce Goldsmith, won the 2007 Paragliding World Championships held in Manilla, New South Wales, Australia, flying an Airwave Magic FR3. Variants Magic 3 S Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its wing has an area of 24.46 m2 (263.3 sq ft), 71 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.03:1. The pilot weight range is 65 to 85 kg (143 to 187 lb). The glider model is DHV 2-3 certified. Magic 3 M Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its wing has an area of 26 m2 (280 sq ft), 71 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.03:1. The pilot weight range is 80 to 105 kg (176 to 231 lb). The glider model is DHV 2-3 certified. Magic 3 L Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its wing has an area of 28.12 m2 (302.7 sq ft), 71 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.03:1. The pilot weight range is 100 to 105 kg (220 to 231 lb). The glider model is DHV 2-3 certified. Specifications (Magic 2 M) (Data from Bertrand) General characteristics Crew: one Wing area: 26 m2 (280 sq ft) Aspect ratio: 6.03:1 Performance Maximum speed: 55 km/h (34 mph, 30 kn) Airwave Scenic Scenic Role - Paraglider National origin - Austria Manufacturer - Airwave Gliders Designer - Bruce Goldsmith Status - Production completed Produced - mid-2000s The Airwave Scenic is an Austrian two-place, paraglider that was designed by Bruce Goldsmith and produced by Airwave Gliders of Fulpmes. It is now out of production. Design and development The Scenic was designed as a tandem glider for flight training and as such was referred to as the Scenic Bi, indicating "bi-place" or two seater. The aircraft's 14.81 m (48.6 ft) span wing has 77 cells, a wing area of 43 m2 (460 sq ft) and an aspect ratio of 5.1:1. The pilot weight range is 140 to 220 kg (309 to 485 lb). The glider is DHV 1-2 certified. Specifications (Scenic Bi) (Data from Bertrand) General characteristics Crew: one Capacity: one passenger Wingspan: 14.81 m (48 ft 7 in) Wing area: 43 m2 (460 sq ft) Aspect ratio: 5.1:1 Performance Maximum speed: 42 km/h (26 mph, 23 kn) Airwave Sport Sport Role - Paraglider National origin - Austria Manufacturer - Airwave Gliders Status - Production completed Produced - mid-2000s The Airwave Sport is an Austrian single-place, paraglider that was designed by Bruce Goldsmith and produced by Airwave Gliders of Fulpmes. It is now out of production. Design and development The Sport was designed as an intermediate glider. The five models are each named for their relative size. Operational history Reviewer Noel Bertrand described the Sport in a 2003 review as "a lively DHV 1-2 wing". Variants Sport XS Extra small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 10.9 m (35.8 ft) span wing has a wing area of 23 m2 (250 sq ft), 51 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.21:1. The pilot weight range is 50 to 70 kg (110 to 154 lb). The glider model is DHV 1-2 certified. Sport S Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 11.4 m (37.4 ft) span wing has a wing area of 25 m2 (270 sq ft), 51 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.21:1. The pilot weight range is 65 to 85 kg (143 to 187 lb). The glider model is DHV 1-2 certified. Sport M Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 11.9 m (39.0 ft) span wing has a wing area of 27 m2 (290 sq ft), 51 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.21:1. The pilot weight range is 80 to 100 kg (176 to 220 lb). The glider model is DHV 1-2 certified. Sport L Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 12.3 m (40.4 ft) span wing has a wing area of 28 m2 (300 sq ft), 51 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.21:1. The pilot weight range is 95 to 120 kg (209 to 265 lb). The glider model is DHV 1-2 certified. Sport XL Extra large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 12.8 m (42.0 ft) span wing has a wing area of 29 m2 (310 sq ft), 51 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.21:1. The pilot weight range is 110 to 140 kg (243 to 309 lb). The glider model is DHV 1-2 certified. Specifications (Sport L) (Data from Bertrand) General characteristics Crew: one Wingspan: 12.3 m (40 ft 4 in) Wing area: 28 m2 (300 sq ft) Aspect ratio: 5.21:1 Performance Maximum speed: 50 km/h (31 mph, 27 kn) Rate of sink: 1.1 m/s (220 ft/min) Airwave Ten Ten Role - Paraglider National origin - Austria Manufacturer - Airwave Gliders Designer - Bruce Goldsmith Status - Production completed Produced - mid-2000s The Airwave Ten is an Austrian single-place, paraglider that was designed by Bruce Goldsmith and produced by Airwave Gliders of Fulpmes. It is now out of production. Design and development The Ten was designed as a competition glider and has a top speed of 65 km/h (40 mph). It is named for its glide ratio if 10:1. The models are each named for their relative size. Variants Ten S Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its wing has an area of 24.46 m2 (263.3 sq ft), 75 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.25:1. The pilot weight range is 81 to 98 kg (179 to 216 lb). Ten M Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its wing has an area of 26 m2 (280 sq ft), 75 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.25:1. The pilot weight range is 90 to 107 kg (198 to 236 lb). Ten L Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its wing has an area of 28.12 m2 (302.7 sq ft), 75 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.25:1. The pilot weight range is 102 to 120 kg (225 to 265 lb). Specifications (Ten M) (Data from Bertrand) General characteristics Crew: one Wing area: 26 m2 (280 sq ft) Aspect ratio: 6.25:1 Performance Maximum speed: 65 km/h (40 mph, 35 kn) Maximum glide ratio: 10:1 Airwave Wave Airwave Wave Role - Paraglider National origin - Austria Manufacturer - Airwave Gliders Designer - Bruce Goldsmith Status - Production completed Produced - mid-2000s The Airwave Wave is an Austrian single-place, paraglider that was designed by Bruce Goldsmith and produced by Airwave Gliders of Fulpmes. It is now out of production. Design and development The Wave was designed as a beginner glider, with the three models each named for their relative size. Variants Wave S Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its wing has an area of 24.94 m2 (268.5 sq ft), 42 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.23:1. The pilot weight range is 65 to 85 kg (143 to 187 lb). The glider model is DHV 1 certified. Wave M Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its wing has an area of 27.06 m2 (291.3 sq ft), 42 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.23:1. The pilot weight range is 80 to 100 kg (176 to 220 lb). The glider model is DHV 1 certified. Wave L Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its wing has an area of 29.27 m2 (315.1 sq ft), 42 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.23:1. The pilot weight range is 95 to 120 kg (209 to 265 lb). The glider model is DHV 1 certified. Specifications (Wave M) (Data from Bertrand) General characteristics Crew: one Wing area: 27.06 m2 (291.3 sq ft) Aspect ratio: 5.23:1 Performance Maximum speed: 45 km/h (28 mph, 24 kn) |