{"id":3946,"date":"2011-08-05T16:27:33","date_gmt":"2011-08-05T23:27:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=3946"},"modified":"2014-02-12T15:02:26","modified_gmt":"2014-02-12T22:02:26","slug":"its-a-race-its-an-economy-run","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/its-a-race-its-an-economy-run\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s a Race \u2013 It\u2019s an Economy Run"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stemme<\/a>, the German manufacturer of a series of highly innovative sailplanes, motorgliders and even unmanned aerial vehicles, has announced the first Green Speed Cup<\/a>, <\/em>which will\u00a0 take place between August 7 and 13, 2011, starting from Stausberg Airfield every day.<\/p>\n

Combining a race with an economy run, the six-day event will help illuminate the strategies different teams will use to fly \u201cas fast as possible while minimizing the consumption of fossil fuel energy,\u201d according to the GSC\u2019s organizers.\u00a0 Explaining that the Cup is a \u201ca direct comparison of technologies, machines, materials and the capabilities of the pilots,\u201d taking into account how pilots can exploit thermals and winds, Stemme expects that the competition should \u201cpractical solutions for saving energy during powered flight.\u201d<\/p>\n

If all goes well, \u201cToday\u2019s standards for cruising speed, range and endurance should be reached or exceeded as far as possible.\u201d\u00a0 The contest will support a cooperative research project between Stemme and the Technical University of Dresden.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Stemme S6 (foreground) and S10<\/p><\/div>\n

Seven aircraft, including three Stemme S10-VTs, three Stemme S6Ts, and one Diamond DA40, are entered, including an S10 flown by Solar Impulse test pilot Markus Scherdel.<\/p>\n

The pilot who achieves the best ratio of fuel-consumption per distance and speed each day will win 1,000 points and runners-up will have their points calculated\u00a0proportional to the winner\u2019s score.\u00a0 To prepare for the race, Stemme suggests that pilots learn the best gliding speed, propeller and engine performance for their aircraft, and provides a simple test to determine those parameters.\u00a0 These will vary for different thermal conditions, and will require a great deal of pilot skill and knowledge.<\/p>\n

Almost all entrants, except for the Diamond DA40 (a four seater), are Stemme products with the company’s distinctive mid-engine location\/shaft-drive, and\u00a0similar wings, but different performance characteristics.\u00a0 The S10-VTs with their longer wings (23 meters or 75.5 feet) and higher glide ratios (50:1) may excel if thermals are strong, but the S6Ts\u2019 18-meter (59 foot) wingspan and smaller wing area might allow them to power through more effectively if calm days prevail.\u00a0 \u00a0Interestingly, the S10s have higher cruising speeds than the S6s.<\/p>\n

Strategies, changing daily to reflect meteorological immediacy, will probably stretch pilots to their limits of planning and in-flight judgment.<\/p>\n

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S10-VT's unique folding propeller, hidden during gliding flight behind a pop-out nosecone<\/p><\/div>\n

Stemme\u2019s highly innovative designs employ unique folding propeller and folding wing mechanisms, as well as detailed well executed aerodynamic designs.\u00a0 The video gives a concise overview of these, set to an Enya tune, a nice aural setting for the equally nice visuals.<\/p>\n