The Blaicher B-38 was a Polish, single seat sailplane completed in 1938. Notable for its use of long span Fowler flaps, its development was ended by the German invasion of Poland in September 1939.
| Blaicher B-38 | |
|---|---|
| Role | High performance, single seat, experimental sailplane |
| National origin | Poland |
| Manufacturer | ZASPL |
| Designer | Michal Blaicher |
| First flight | Late 1938 or early 1939 |
| Number built | 1 |
Design and development edit
Following the WOS-37, his development of the Czerwiński CW 5 bis, Michal Blaicher turned to a new design incorporating Fowler flaps. Construction began in the ZASPL workshops but moved when ZASPL became LWL, controlled by PWS, delaying its completion.[1] Its first flight was made either late in 1938[1] or in the spring of 1939 at Lwów-Skiłnów,[2] flown by Zbigniew Źabski. After some modifications it was ready for official testing in August 1939 but was destroyed in the German invasion the following month.[1][2]
The all-wood B-38 had a cantilever gull wing built around two spars and covered with stress-relieving plywood. The mass balanced ailerons were assisted by Flettner tab and, inboard of them, Fowler flaps filled the remaining 2/3 of the span.[1]
The glider's fuselage was a ply-covered, semi-monocoque structure of oval cross-section. Its single seat cockpit, which included blind flying instrumentation, was enclosed and had a long dorsal fairing behind it. At the rear the cantilever tailplane was mounted above the fuselage on the fin; like the ailerons the elevators were tab assisted. Fixed empennage surfaces were ply-covered and the control surfaces fabric-covered.[1][2]
A detachable, two-wheeled trolley was used for take-off and a sprung skid for landings.[1]
Specifications edit
Data from J, Cynk (1971),[1] except where noted. Performance from samolotypolskie[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Length: 6.3 m (20 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 16.3 m (53 ft 6 in)
- Height: 1.25 m (4 ft 1 in) [2]
- Wing area: 13.4 m2 (144 sq ft)
- Aspect ratio: 20
- Empty weight: 190 kg (419 lb)
- Gross weight: 275 kg (606 lb)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 200 km/h (120 mph, 110 kn) in dive
- Maximum glide ratio: best 29 at 80 km/h (50 mph; 43 kn)
- Rate of sink: 0.7 m/s (140 ft/min) minimum at 70 km/h (43 mph; 38 kn), flaps up. With flaps down, 0.4 m/s (79 ft/min) at 40 km/h (25 mph; 22 kn).[1]
- Minimum speed:35 km/h (22 mph; 19 kn)
See also edit
Related lists
References edit
