{"id":9728,"date":"2015-03-18T12:43:07","date_gmt":"2015-03-18T19:43:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=9728"},"modified":"2015-03-27T11:07:50","modified_gmt":"2015-03-27T18:07:50","slug":"getting-glow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/getting-glow\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting a GloW On"},"content":{"rendered":"

Great Britain has recently allowed very light aircraft to fly under SSDR (Single-Seat DeRegulated) rules, which permit single-seat aircraft with an MTOM (maximum take-off mass) of not more than 300 kilograms (660 pounds) and a landing speed of not more than 35 knots (40.27 mph or 64.82 kilometers per hour).\u00a0 With weights and speeds a bit higher than those allowed for American ultralights, these would be desirable as a way to expand the number of aircraft flying under ultralight rules.\u00a0 How a machine such as the ProAirsport\u2019s GloW<\/a> will be regulated in America remains to be seen.<\/p>\n

\"ProAirsport<\/a>

ProAirsport GloW includes jet turbine for climbing, dual electrically-driven wheels for acceleration<\/p><\/div>\n

Formed in 2014, ProAirsport will built light aircraft around the new British rules while adopting ASTM F2564, Standard Specification for Design and Performance of a Light Sport Glider<\/i><\/a>, as a way to meet light sport standards worldwide \u2013 including in America.\u00a0 You can see the abstract here, but the full set of standards costs $49.00 plus shipping.<\/p>\n

The actual machine, shown here in computer renderings, will meet SSDR limits, and be powered by a Dutch AMT Titan microturbine that generates 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of thrust.\u00a0 The eight-pound jet sits in a fixed position, needing only to be flipped on and started to produce power.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"13.5-meter<\/a>

13.5-meter wings allow light weight, single-person rigging of aircraft<\/p><\/div>\n

Because jets have sometimes very slow acceleration when the throttle is advanced, GloW\u2019s designers have added a pair of motorized main wheels to help overcome that lack.\u00a0 Electric motors have great torque for their size, even at zero speed.\u00a0 This combination of retractable\u201chelper wheels\u201d with a small jet to loft the sailplane to altitude seems to provide one solution to self-launching.<\/p>\n

The little engine is thirsty, sucking down 36 ounces of fuel per minute.\u00a0 That means takeoff and climb to 2,500 feet will consume about 6.5 liters, or about 1.717 U. S. gallons of kerosene, diesel (including agricultural, recycled and bio-diesel types), jet fuel, or other approved form of go juice. \u00a0A planned 34 liters on board (subject to change) would enable five take-offs and climbs to soarable heights.\u00a0 In flight, a cruising throttle would enable flight on 20-percent power, sipping one-half liter per minute, good for close to an hour of autonomous flight. \u00a0(Editor’s Note: Original number for U. S. gallons of fuel was too low and was corrected by Howard Handelman. \u00a0This little engine is definitely thirsty.)<\/em><\/p>\n

The 300 kilogram MTOM has allowed GloW\u2019s designers to use less expensive, heavier fiberglass construction, rather than the carbon fiber preferred to help keep U. S. ultralights within the 254-pound, FAR Part 103 limits.<\/p>\n