Glasflügel 303
The Glasflügel 303 Mosquito is a composite 15 metre Class single-seat sailplane manufactured by Glasflügel between 1976 and 1980.
303 | |
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Role | 15 metre class sailplane |
National origin | Germany |
Manufacturer | Glasflügel |
Number built | 202 |
External image | |
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Glasflügel 303 Mosquito in flight |
Design and development
Designed for the 15 metre racing class, the Mosquito married the Standard Class Hornet fuselage with a flapped wing employing the then widely-used FX 67-K-170 airfoil developed at the University of Stuttgart by Professor F.X. Wortmann. The Mosquito had a new design of one-piece canopy rather than the two-piece canopy used on the Hornet.
This profile and its sister profile FX 67-K-150 are among the most prolific in the history of gliding, as they were employed also in the Nimbus-2, Mini-Nimbus, DG-200 and DG-400, PIK-20, Kestrel, Mosquito, Vega, Jantar and LAK-12 among other types.
The 303 wing featured innovative interconnected trailing edge dive brakes-variable camber flaps. The glider had automatic connection for all controls: ailerons, elevator, air brakes and water ballast. The Mosquito also uses a pneumatic tail wheel rather than a skid. It was available with a tow release in both the nose and near the centre of gravity; in-flight adjustable rudder pedals and seat back. A lever bar to aid in assembly was also employed. A larger than common retractable main wheel with drum brake is also a nice feature, however the brake lever located in the seat pan behind the joy stick is slightly inconvenient.[1]
The maiden flight of the Mosquito took place in 1976. It is by all accounts a nice-handling, comfortable and pleasing aircraft, but a little less performing than the contemporaneous Rolladen-Schneider LS3 and ASW 20. Therefore, the Mosquito (and the Schempp-Hirth Mini-Nimbus that shares the same wing) did not do well in top-level competition, neither did it find the large commercial success of the Libelle. The Mosquito was superseded in 1980 by the Glasflügel 304.
Aircraft on display
Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: One pilot
- Capacity: 125 kg (275 lb) water ballast
- Length: 6.40 m (21 ft 0 in)
- Wingspan: 15.00 m (49 ft 3 in)
- Height: 1.40 m (4 ft 7 in)
- Wing area: 9.86 m2 (106 sq ft)
- Aspect ratio: 22.8
- Empty weight: 242 kg (532 lb)
- Gross weight: 450 kg (990 lb)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 250 km/h (160 mph, 140 kn)
- Maximum glide ratio: 39
- Rate of sink: 0.50 m/s (100 ft/min)
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
- Glasflugel Mosquito Serial #70 manual
- US Southwest Soaring Museum (2010). "Sailplanes, Hang Gliders & Motor Gliders". Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- Thomas F, Fundamentals of Sailplane Design, College Park Press, 1999
- Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965-2000, Eqip, 2004
Glasflugel Mosquito serial number 70 flight manual