Eta (glider)
The Eta (own spelling: eta ) is a self-launching two-seater glider with 30,90 m span for the Open Class. It is the world's largest and most powerful commercial glider and has a best glide ratio of about 70
History
The first models
It first three were built eta. In September 2003, the second prototype crashed during flight testing from after structural failure. However, the aircraft was outside the intended in the design of the flight envelope. Both pilots were able to escape by parachute. Then, the first prototype was modified and continued the flight tests without problems.
The aircraft was manufactured in small batches by hand. Provided for a production of three aircraft per year, six have been built so far. In addition, another pair of aircraft wings has been issued with the part number 7 ready and a JAA Form One as a replacement.
Nimeta
On 21 July 2009, the first flight of the " Nimeta " took place. The aircraft was completed on behalf of the gliding world champion Bruno Gantenbrink who already has a " Eta " in two years of development and construction of the company fiberglass Aircraft Service GmbH Hans Jörg Streifeneder.
The Nimeta is a motor glider with a modified hull of the Nimbus - 4 and its tailplane and an Eta- wing - the part number manufactured as a substitute 7 The combination of the fundamentally different mechanism of fuselage and wing and the wing-fuselage connection has been redesigned and the vertical tail increased by 20 %.
The engine system was taken over completely by the system Ventus / Nimbus and assembled by Schempp- Hirth.
On May 17, 2012, the aircraft crashed in flight tests of the airfield Aalen- Elchingen from the test pilot was able to escape by parachute.
Placements in competitions
The machine caught first time at the 2003 World Championships in Leszno attention. Janusz Centka was able to secure five days wins and was second in the overall standings. Also in other competitions good rankings were achieved.
In May 2009, Hans- Werner Grosse took third place in the Open class with an eta in Lüsse Cup.