SZD 56-1 Diana
Eric Westphal
I am in the process of doing research in preparation for purchasing my first
sailplane (modern, but new or used). I would like to get a competitive
racing sailplane (preferably 15m class) and begin competing next year in the
sport class. I read Dick Johnson's flight test of the SZD-56-1 Diana and am
intrigued. Does anyone on the list know much about the Diana?
In particular, I have the following questions:
* The Diana has a distinctive theme to its design: a high aspect ratio,
thin wing, low empty weight, wide wing loading range. The airflow also
remains attached to the wing without the use of turbulators. Mr. Johnson
stated in his summary that the Diana is a very high-performance racer and
not suitable for low-time pilots. Is the wing therefore optimized for only
a narrow range of angles of attack? Is the design of the wing such that it
stalls violently or with little warning? What are the general benefits and
detriments of this design?
* Is it necessary to wear dark clothing in order to see out of the canopy,
with the seat as highly reclined as it is?
* I haven't seen the Diana compete in any contests this Summer. Have many
competition pilots taken to the Diana? How have they done?
Thank you in advance to anyone who can answer any of these questions or
provide any other comments about the Diana!
Eric Westphal
Marc Ramsey
> Thank you in advance to anyone who can answer any of these questions or
> provide any other comments about the Diana!
A few things that I've heard:
1) The cockpit is quite tight, not for the tall or wide.
2) There are three in the US, two are apparently the original prototypes, and
one is a production ship (it may be the only production ship).
3) The factory has been out of business for more than a year, it is very
unlikely that any more will be produced, and spare parts will be a real
problem.
Otherwise, it looks way cool 8^)
Marc
--
_____________________________
Marc Ramsey, ma...@ranlog.com
http://www.ranlog.com/ramsey/
Robertmudd1u
<ewes...@feist.com> writes:
> I haven't seen the Diana compete in any contests this Summer. Have many
>competition pilots taken to the Diana?>
Not many. Even the Polish team does not fly them.
Technically speaking it is an interesting glider, possessing as it does some
unique features. It was optimized to have the lowest possible empty weight. The
factory claimed 386lbs. The lowest wing loading claimed is about 5.7 lb/sq.ft.
Only a few were made and now SZD is closed. However there was a posting on the
group just last week saying that the entire Diana project could be purchased.
Good luck.
Robert Mudd
Charchian
Yes, the Diana is very intriguing! Only 3 were made, Two prototypes and one
production sailplane. One of the prototypes was remanufactured and sold. Both
the former prototype and the production ship are in this country (US). The
previous threads are correct in that the company is closed and I recently heard
that it was being liquidated. The fate of the Diana is unknown. It is truly
unfortunate.
I went to the factory about 3 years ago for the express purpose of determining
if I could fit. The cockpit is 2 inches narrower than an LS 6. Although it
was a tight squeeze for me ( 5' 11" & 190 lbs.) I did make two flights in it.
I found it completely without any vises and a pleasure to fly. If I could make
myself comfortable I would have bought one on the spot!
If you are interested in my two cents worth I suggest that you buy an LS 6b,
ASW20B or Ventus B. They are all very good performing sailplanes and also very
robust. They also are very popular and will be easy to sell when you are ready
to upgrade not to mention that they are available now. The wait for a Ventus 2
or ASW 27 is about 2 years or more.
Good Luck,
Lorry Charchian (LJ)
Thomas Knauff
If you don't mind some opinion, the best buy is a name brand product from a
well established company. These gliders retain their value for decades so
you can be assured of a high resale value when the time comes.
Very few "wonder gliders" stand the test of time and become undesirable on
the used market.
--
Thomas Knauff
Knauff & Grove Soaring Supplies
3523 South Eagle Valley Road
Julian, Pa 16844
(814) 355 2483
Fax (814) 355 2633
Email: kna...@eglider.org
www.eglider.org
"Charchian" <char...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000913012448...@ng-bd1.aol.com...
Janusz Kesik
was invitation to tender for buying production rights, documentation, parts
ane everything You need for production. You have to have production
certificate only.
Start price is: 295000PLN. It probably equals to about 66900US$. But time is
about out I think.
I'll try to scan the AD (only in Polish).
Regards,
Janusz Kesik
Aero Club of Czestochowa, Poland
lan...@polbox.com
http://www.soaring.enter.net.pl
Janusz Kesik
>A few things that I've heard:
>
>1) The cockpit is quite tight, not for the tall or wide.
YES, I've heard it too.
>2) There are three in the US, two are apparently the original prototypes,
and
> one is a production ship (it may be the only production ship).
There are two(? or one) in Poland, both owned by Aeroklub Polski ("Polish
SSA"). Both are for sale now, like few (3?) SZD-55 too. I've heard that they
are in good prices.
>3) The factory has been out of business for more than a year, it is very
> unlikely that any more will be produced, and spare parts will be a real
> problem.
As I written before, the factory is out of bussiness but issued invitation
to tender for production and bulletin coverage of Diana (including all
documentation, forms, parts, etc. - all what You need to produce next
Dianas).
There's note that buyer have to have production certificate.
If; You're interested contact SZD in Bielsko by phone +48 33 8125028 from
Mon till Fri in hours between 8am and 14 pm. Postal Adress is:
PDPS "PZL Bielsko"
ul Cieszynska 325
43-300 Bielsko Biala
Poland
>Otherwise, it looks way cool 8^)
Looks great, especially rear fuselage - diameter 10cm :) I saw one in Zar
near Bielsko-Biala in Poland (there's one if You want to see) - (the second
one or third?).
Janusz Kesik
Eric Westphal napisał(a) w wiadomości: ...
>Hello, all.
>
>I am in the process of doing research in preparation for purchasing my
first
>sailplane (modern, but new or used). I would like to get a competitive
>racing sailplane (preferably 15m class) and begin competing next year in
the
>sport class. I read Dick Johnson's flight test of the SZD-56-1 Diana and
am
>intrigued. Does anyone on the list know much about the Diana?
Not much, but I've heard that Diana is very resistant for damage when ground
looping. One of the starts in Zar effected in two one-by-one heavy ground
loops. All people have been thinking that glider had to ba damaged, but
precisive inspection detected no damages... We were very surprised... I have
to admit - carbon fibre is very strong...
>
>* I haven't seen the Diana compete in any contests this Summer. Have many
>competition pilots taken to the Diana? How have they done?
All world records set by Hana Zejdova were done in Diana. It's the best
reference.
Polish team used it for few years, but now they're going to buy LS-8 and
ASW-27 - that's why they're selling national team's SZD-55-1 and SZD-56.
One of the French pilots, I don't remember his name, but I saw him probably
on the Saint Auban website some time ago, as an instructor or something...
but I'm not sure. He has been testing Diana provided by factory, for some
time. Try this way.
BTW Diana may be quite cheap when compared with prices of it's counterparts.
Regards,
Janusz Kesik
Janusz Kesik
Aero Club of Czestochowa, Poland
lan...@polbox.com
http://www.soaring.enter.net.pl
RFR napisał(a) w wiadomości: <8pnihd$skm$1...@pollux.ip-plus.net>...
>I believe J-D Barrois flew the Diana during the last WGC, but retired early
>because of an off-field landing, which (don't know for sure) broke off the
>tail.
>
>RR
>
>
RFR
Martin
Thomas Knauff <kna...@eglider.org> wrote in message
news:eWOv5.235$JT3....@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
> A Ventus 2B (15 meter only) is available in about one year.
>
> If you don't mind some opinion, the best buy is a name brand product from
a
> well established company. These gliders retain their value for decades so
> you can be assured of a high resale value when the time comes.
>
> Very few "wonder gliders" stand the test of time and become undesirable on
> the used market.
>
Talking of "wonder gliders", anyone bought a Genesis 2 yet?
Martin
Ludovic Launer
> One of the French pilots, I don't remember his name, but I saw him
probably
Jean-Denis Barrois
> on the Saint Auban website some time ago, as an instructor or something...
He's no longer working at the CNVV, but you might find someone to help you
there.
If I remember well, he flew the Diana during a comp. in st Auban (was it for
the pre worlds ??).
--
Ludovic Launer
lau...@esrf.fr
RFR
or DHL, flying jets.
He flew in the Worlds, but one the first couple of days.
Regards,
Rod
Eric Westphal
design. I recalled reading about Hana Zejdova's record flights in Soaring a
few years ago but didn't recall that it was in a Diana, so I went back and
read that account. It seems like quite a capable ship! I hope that someone
else thinks so and purchases the manufacturing rights!
Eric Westphal
Robertmudd1u
<remove_no_...@hotmail.com> writes:
>
>Talking of "wonder gliders", anyone bought a Genesis 2 yet?
>
>Martin
>
Yes, # 24of the series production arrives in Baltimore today or tommorow.
Robert Mudd
Jim Husain
>you can be assured of a high resale value when the time comes.
Conversly, if you buy a "no name" glider, it will reflect a low resale price,
so you'll get it for a great price. When you go to sell it, you may not get a
great price, but the price will be comparable to what you paid for it.
Economics 101.
My excess capital, ie the money I saved on my no name ship, is more than enough
to pay for that spankin' new motorboat for water skiing, wake boarding, and
cruising the chesapeake.
Jim
N483SZ
gap...@aol.com
Janusz Kesik
GRRRRRRRRRRR......................... ;)
JK
Jim Husain napisał(a) w wiadomości:
<20000914221306...@ng-bk1.aol.com>...
OscarCVox
The LS8 competes favourably in the 15m class and fitting the 18m tips competes
against 18 flapped ships as well.
Only trouble is that they are so desirable that I dont know what the waiting
list is