The Rio Claro Araponga (Brazilian Portuguese name for the Neotropical bellbird), was a single-seat sailplane of high-wing.[1][2]

Araponga
Role Sailplane
National origin Brazil
Manufacturer Rio Claro Aero Club
Designer Sílvio de Oliveira
First flight 1985
Number built 1

Design and development

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In 1983, a group of aviators from the Rio Claro aero club decided to hire Sílvio de Oliveira, an aeronautical engineer, to develop a high performance monoplace glider. Initially it was planned to build two copies, the resources were pooled among the members. With classic lines and entirely built in native wood, with a plywood outer cover, it had conventional landing gear flaps formed by a fixed skid and a fixed roller, semi-embedded on the fuselage and fixed skid under the tail.

Specifications

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Data from Taylor 1986, p. 740, Pereira 1997, p. 360

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 6.80 m (22 ft 4 in)
  • Wingspan: 12.30 m (40 ft 4 in)
  • Empty weight: 150 kg (331 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 240 kg (529 lb)

Performance

  • Stall speed: 69 km/h (43 mph, 37 kn)

See also

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Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Notes

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  1. ^ Taylor 1986, p. 740
  2. ^ Pereira 1997, p. 360

References

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  • Taylor, John W. R. (1986). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1986–87. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.
  • Pereira, Roberto (1997). Enciclopédia de Aviões Brasileiros. São Paulo: Editora Globo. ISBN 9788525021373.
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