Glasflügel H-301

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The Glasflügel H-301 Libelle is an early composite 15-metre Class single-seat sailplane produced by Glasflügel from 1964 to 1969.

Development

In 1964 the H-301 Libelle ("Dragonfly") received the first German and first U.S. Type Certificate issued to an all-fiberglass aircraft. It had flaps, waterballast and retractable landing gear.

There are two canopy variants: the normal canopy and a sleeker, lower-profiled 'racing' canopy with no side vent. The canopy is unusual in having a catch that enables the front to be raised by 25mm in flight to provide a blast of ventilating air if required, instead of the more conventional small sliding panel used for this purpose.

The American Will Schuemann pioneered several performance-enhancing modifications to the type. Exemplars incorporating these changes are informally known as 'Schümanised' Libelles.

The H-201 Standard Libelle was developed in 1967 as a Standard Class variant.

The Libelle was a very popular and influential design. Its very light wings and extremely easy rigging set a new benchmark. Handling is generally easy except that it is quite sensitive to sideslipping and has relatively ineffective airbrakes that make short landings tricky for inexperienced pilots.

The Standard Libelle was superseded by the Hornet.

The Libelle was superseded by the Mosquito.

Design

* Wings: spar and shell of balsa or foam / reinforced plastic sandwich
* Ailerons: balsa or synthetic foam / reinforced plastic sandwich.
* Horizontal stabilizer: reinforced plastic
* Elevator: reinforced plastic
* Automatic connections for airbrakes, flaps and elevator. Ailerons are connected by a "pip" pin

pecifications

aerospecs
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met or eng?= met

crew=One pilot
capacity=50 kg (110 lb) water ballast
length m=6.19
length ft=20
length in=4
span m=15.00
span ft=49
span in=3
swept m=
swept ft=
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dia m=
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width m=
width ft=
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height m=1.25
height ft=4
height in=1
wing area sqm=9.5
wing area sqft=102
swept area sqm=
swept area sqft=
rot area sqm=
rot area sqft=
volume m3=
volume ft3=
aspect ratio= 23.6
empty weight kg=ca. 180
empty weight lb=400
gross weight kg=300
gross weight lb=660
lift kg=
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max speed kmh=200
max speed mph=125
max speed mach=
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range km=
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ceiling m=
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glide ratio= ca. 39
climb rate ms=
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sink rate ms= 0.55
sink rate ftmin= 108

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References

*Thomas F, Fundamentals of Sailplane Design, College Park Press, 1999
*Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965-2000, Eqip, 2004
* [http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/ Sailplane Directory]