| National origin | United States |
|---|---|
| Designer | Fred Hermanspann and Art Penz |
| Status | Production completed |
| Number built | One |
| First flight | 1993 |
The Hermanspann Chinook is an American mid-wing, two-seat, experimental research glider that was designed and constructed by Fred Hermanspann and Art Penz.[1][2]
Design and development
The Chinook and its improved variant, the Chinook S, have been used to study the effect of rain on airfoils and also stall dynamics.[1]
The aircraft is predominantly made from aluminium with the cockpit area made from fiberglass. Its high aspect ratio wing has a 57 ft (17.4 m) span and employs a Wortmann FX67-K-170/17 airfoil. Glidepath control is via hydraulically operated trailing edge flaps that deflect 80°. The landing gear consists of hydraulically retractable nose and main gear. The vertical stabilizer is highly swept.[1][3]
The improved Chinook S features an improved wing tip design, system and structure refinements, and a BRS-1200 ballistic parachute.[citation needed]
Only one Chinook was constructed and it was registered with the US Federal Aviation Administration in the Experimental - Amateur-built category.[1][2]
Operational history
As of March 2015, the Chinook was still registered with the FAA to Hermanspann.[2]
After the conclusion of a number of research projects regarding rain effects, performance measurements, and stall dynamics, the sailplane was being employed extensively through 2015 for cross-country flying, having made a total of five crossings of the Cascade mountains and having set four Washington state soaring records.[citation needed]
Variants
- Chinook
- Original configuration, first flown in 1993.[1][2]
- Chinook S
- Improved configuration, first flown in 1996.[1]
References
- ^ Activate Media (2006). "Chinook S Hermanspann". Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ^ Federal Aviation Administration (21 March 2015). "Make / Model Inquiry Results N100FH". Archived from the original on September 17, 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
- ^ Lednicer, David (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". Archived from the original on 6 August 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2011.