Rolladen Schneider LS4
The LS4 is a single-seat high performance glider of the German manufacturer Schneider shutters and was manufactured from 1980 to 2007 in series. It represents the actual successor to the LS- 1f and was developed with a focus on pleasant flight characteristics and improved performance compared to the LS- 1f. In the 1980s, the LS -4 occupied at many national and international competitions, the front seats. With 1050 copies made is the LS4 third place of the most commonly manufactured gliders. Because of their good glide ratio and the good-natured flying characteristics, the LS4 is now used for both performance flights as well as beginners training.
History
The first flight of the LS4 was held in 1980. Two years later, the improved version LS4 -a, which was replaced in 1990 by the LS4 -b. She was eventually replaced as the most powerful standard class-based manufacturer of the LS7, but remained as a simple and robust sailors for the club operation continues in production. After the bankruptcy of shutters Schneider in 2003, the Slovenian company AMS Flight took over the type of care and production of the LS4. The company supplied two 2007 -built Slovenia copies and had originally planned to continue to offer this pattern. End of November 2009, however, was posted on the company websites, the decision to stop production due to lack of profitability again. The pattern of care is now taken over by DG-Flugzeugbau.
Counting the variants produced LS4 LS4 LS4 -a and- b together, the pattern is the third most commonly built glider in the world. With 1050 copies, the LS4 is piece outnumbered only by the Grunau Baby and the LET L -13 " Blanik ".
Construction
The LS4 is a single-seat high performance glider in plastic construction with 15 m wingspan and a rigid wing. It was created using the modification of the trunk and the wing of LS3. The version LS4 -a differs from the LS4 mainly by the higher maximum take-off weight, which allows the transportation of more water ballast. The LS4 -b offers a further increased maximum take-off weight further improvements such as automatic flight controls, an optional tail wheel instead of grinding spur previously used, an optional additional water tank in the fin and a reinforced hood mechanism by which it was possible to reach the instrument panel hinged to the hood to attach. Moreover, b version has a shorter by 18 cm hull and in turn higher by 11 cm fin. The flight characteristics are thus not noticeably affected.
With the exception of the automatic flight controls all the new features of the b- version can also be retrofitted to older aircraft, which is why there are now many mixed forms. In particular, many LS4 and LS4 -a have been retrofitted with a tail wheel.
Now removable winglets are offered for retrofitting on all versions of the LS4, which improve the flight performance at low speeds and with water ballast. Because of the altered by the winglets Trudel behavior, however, the water ballast is reduced to 100 kg. The 60- date as modified aircraft are designated as LS4 WL. You can take the pluggable winglets also flown with the old straight face ends. In this configuration can still be taken along the full water ballast.
From AMS -made LS4 corresponded to the b version.
Sporting successes
In the standard class of the World Championship of the year flew 1981 LS4 and first place at the European Championship in 1982 was flown on a LS4. In 1983, the LS4 occupied at the German Championship and the first three places at the World Cup even the first six places. Also in 1983, won Marlis Bertram at the German Women's Championship and the European Championship of women with a LS4 and was able to repeat the victory in 1984 at the German Championship. In 1984, a double victory was achieved with the LS4 in the men's championship.
Use
The LS4 can, depending on whether they will be flown with or without water ballast, are considered optional in the Club Class or Standard Class. In the racing season 2012, the gliding index has been revised and is now without winglets for the LS4 104 and 105 with winglets The LS4 is popular with pilots because of their good performance and good-natured flying characteristics today are still very popular.