| Albastar | |
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HW100 - 45000
UAW55 - 105000 RRW100 - 175000 PKRR - 7500 |
Albastar Ltd Albastar Ltd Company type - Privately held company Industry - Aerospace Founded - 1993 Founder - Pavel Potočnik Headquarters - Begunje na Gorenjskem, Slovenia Products - Gliders Website - www.gliders-albastar.com Albastar Ltd (also called Albastar d.o.o.) is a Slovenian aircraft manufacturer, founded by former Elan employee Pavel Potočnik in 1993. It was originally based in Zgornje Gorje and now in Begunje na Gorenjskem. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of gliders and light aircraft in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft, plus the production of subcontract aircraft parts for other manufacturers. The company has produced several designs of its own, including the now out-of-production Albastar A1 motorglider and the Albastar Apis sailplane. The current production aircraft is the Albastar AS self-launching sailplane, available as a 13.5 m (44.3 ft) span FAI 13.5 m Class or 18 m (59.1 ft) span FAI Open Class sailplane. Albastar also has collaborated with other companies, notably Pipistrel on the development of the Pipistrel Sinus motor glider for which it completed the majority of the aerodynamic work. Albastar continues to produce the Sinus wings as well as the wings for the Pipistrel Virus and Pipistrel Taurus. The company also produced propellers for ultralight trikes and wind turbine blades for electrical power generation. Aircraft Summary of aircraft built by Albastar Ltd Model name - First flight - Number built - Type Albastar A1 - _ - _ - Mid-wing, T-tailed, single-seat motor glider Albastar Apis - 2000 - _ - single seat sailplane Albastar AS - _ - _ - single seat self-launching sailplane Albastar Apis Albastar A1 A1 Role - Motor glider National origin - Slovenia Manufacturer - Albastar Ltd Designer - Pavel Potočnik Status - Production completed The Albastar A1 is a Slovenian mid-wing, T-tailed, single-seat motor glider that was designed by Pavel Potočnik and produced by Albastar Ltd. Design and development The A1 is a self-launching glider, with the standard 30 kW (40 hp) Rotax 447 mounted in tractor configuration on a retractable pylon behind the cockpit. When retracted the engine is hidden behind two doors. The German importer of the glider equipped his aircraft with a Hirth engine instead of the Rotax powerplant. The A1 is of mixed composite construction and is built from a combination of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer, kevlar and PVC foam. The 15 m (49.2 ft) span wing features winglets and produces a 40:1 glide ratio. The landing gear is a retractable monowheel gear. The price of the A1 in 2003 was ˆ39,900. Specifications (2003 model A1) (Data from World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04) General characteristics Crew: one Wingspan: 15 m (49 ft 3 in) Wing area: 12.26 m2 (132.0 sq ft) Empty weight: 300 kg (661 lb) Propellers: two-bladed wooden Performance Stall speed: 63 km/h (39 mph, 34 kn) Never exceed speed: 362 km/h (225 mph, 196 kn) Maximum glide ratio: 40:1 Rate of sink: 0.58 m/s (114 ft/min) Albastar Apis Apis WR Role - Ultralight-class sailplane National origin - Slovenia Manufacturer - Albastar Ltd First flight - 2000 Variants - Pipistrel Apis-Bee The Albastar Apis WR is a single seater sailplane of Slovenian manufacture, the first aircraft created entirely by this manufacturer, Albastar Ltd. An Ultralight Class glider, it has set five world records in this class. Often confused with the very similar Wezel Apis 2, the two designs are not related. It is sold by Albastar ready-to-fly or kit-built. Specifications General characteristics Crew: One pilot Length: 6.35 m (20 ft 10 in) Wingspan: 13.3 m (43 ft 8 in) Height: 1.25 m (4 ft 1 in) Wing area: 8.9 m2 (96 sq ft) Aspect ratio: 20.0 Empty weight: 135 kg (298 lb) Gross weight: 300 kg (661 lb) Performance Maximum speed: 220 km/h (137 mph, 119 kn) Maximum glide ratio: 40 at 90 km/h (56 mph) Rate of sink: 0.60 m/s (118 ft/min) wikipedia.org (en) |