Genesis sailplane
Charles Davis
I checked out the Genesis Web site at www.groupgenesis.com.
This looks very interesting, but I was wondering what everyone else in
soaring thought.
I am particularly concerned about how this thing will thermal in the
real world; will there be handling difficulties or quirks associated
with the short tail? Also, is there any tendency to ground loop upon
landing?
If you haven't checked out the web site, you should. Unlike many web
sites it actually has a lot of useful info. Be sure to read how the
plane was developed (the software they used, and the contest
simulations). This is a real education.
Personally, I'd like nothing more than for this thing to work.
Imagine, a high-tech US built ship that has world class performance and
is affordable!
By the way, what's the low down on the American Spirit and American
Eagle kits out of Camarillo, CA? I saw these ships at a gliderport up
by Edwards AFB, and they looked very good. Can they be built in the
time they say? How is the quality and performance? How many people
have actually completed and are flying these ships? Are there any
owners out there willing to share your experience in building and
flying? Should we buy one, or are we better off buying a used foreign
made glass ship?
MarkGrubb
Basic Rule: DO NOT buy he first year model of ANYTHING expensive,
especially an airplane (cause they KILL people).
Genesis is still a major unknown. WAIT!!
Spirit/Falcons: NO homebuilt can be built in the manufacturer's estimates
in my experience. There are some problems with the spar design/execution
in these ships. Static tests have catastophically failed the root rib and
spars on at least 3 ships and no ship has been to more than 5.8 G to my
knowledge. This yields something like a 3.5 - 4 G airplane if you want
the usual 1.5 safety factor (and you do) The factory has supplied a fix
but you should definitely wait to see if it works. Handling is in the
Ventus A/B realm; one needs to watch for tip stalls carefully.
Go buy a Libelle, AS-W15, etc. There is no $$ to be saved building
airplanes.
Good Luck
Bishop
In article <50tnvu$h...@dfw-ixnews8.ix.netcom.com>,
ctd...@ix.netcom.com(Charles Davis) wrote:
> I am particularly concerned about how this thing will thermal in the
> real world; will there be handling difficulties or quirks associated
> with the short tail? Also, is there any tendency to ground loop upon
> landing?
For reference's sake, I know some of the people involved with the
development, but do not have one on order, nor am I planning to order a
Genesis.
1) People who've flown it say some very positive things about it.
2) The Discus owner who flew against the prototype was impressed enough to
order one.
3) The prototype originally was marginally worse than some competition
ships in low speed, but the airfoil has since been changed. The Genesis
is now reported to be superior.
4) It doesn't actually have a tail. That horizontal thing that looks like
a tail is actually just a trim tab. The aircraft is stable without it.
5) Flying wings are viable from both controlability and stability
aspects. Please address disagreements with that statement to
rec.aviation.hanggliding. The problem has historically been how to get
speed out of a reflexed airfoil. New airfoils have been developed by John
Roncz (sp?) for this project.
6) I saw several people fly it at a local contest in OH last summer. They
were all smiles when they landed.
Hope this helps!
hcb
GroupGen
I'll also add that the Genesis has very good directional control in both
take-off and landing modes. A cross-wind component has very little effect
on the Genesis and there is really no tendency for it to ground loop. The
Genesis is a nose dragger (like the Grob 103 and Duo-Discus), but with a
retractable nose wheel. This, combined with a short moment arm vertical
stabilizer helps make the Genesis track straight and true. You can't
break the tail boom on a Genesis because it doesn't have one.
Greg Crook (GC)
Jonker, MP
> There is no $$ to be saved building airplanes.
I think this is a rather sweeping statement that might not be true for
everybody. I you have the time, tools, skill and patience and you don't pay
yourself a salary you can save a lot of $$ building your own glider/
airplane. I built myself a Tern in the late 70's for the equivalent of
roughly $1500. I had a lot of fun building it and almost as much fun flying
it. It is still mine, flying nicely and I won't swop it for a ASW 15.
Greetings
Tienie Jonker
GroupGen
Thanks for your comments on the Genesis kit. Building a sailplane may not
be right for everyone, but it is certainly a way to help save a few $.
Did you know that the Genesis kit comes with the wing halves assembled by
the factory?
Greg Crook
Chuck Smith
I beleive then, that it must be registered as "amateur built"
instead of "experimental"?
Looking fwd to your reply,
Chuck Smith
Raul Blacksten
Same thing.
--
***************************************************************
RAUL BLACKSTEN Wishing you green air!
Vintage Sailplane Association Archivist
ra...@earthlink.net
<http://www.earthlink.net/~raulb>
"It may not be smart or correct, but it's one of the things
which make us what we are" --Red Green, The New Red Green Show
Chuck Smith
Raul Blacksten wrote:
>
> Chuck Smith <csm...@eznet.net> wrote:
> "amateur built"
> >instead of "experimental"?
>
> Same thing.
> --
> ***************************************************************
> RAUL BLACKSTEN Wishing you green air!
>
Chuck