The Skliar Aqua Glider or Explorer was a small glider aircraft designed and built in the United States in 1959 and subsequently marketed for homebuilding.[1] Designed by USAF Lt Col Bill Skliar and built by him and a troop of Air Explorers, it was a pontoon-equipped biplane intended to be towed behind a speedboat. Using a tow-rope of between 150 and 400 ft (45 and 120 m), the glider could reach a maximum altitude of 70% the length of the rope when the speedboat reached 35 mph (55 km/h). At this point, the rope would be released, and the glider would return to land on the water.
| Aqua Glider | |
|---|---|
| Role | Recreational glider |
| Manufacturer | Homebuilt |
| Designer | Bill Skliar |
| First flight | 1959 |
Later modifications replaced the pontoons with landing skids fashioned from automobile leaf springs, and the addition of twin McCulloch MC70 engines driving a common propeller in an unsuccessful attempt to motorise the aircraft. The prototype was later donated to the EAA AirVenture Museum.
Specifications (prototype) edit
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 pilot
- Length: 13 ft 8 in (4.16 m)
- Wingspan: 16 ft 0 in (4.87 m)
- Empty weight: 180 lb (80 kg)
- Gross weight: 400 lb (180 kg)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 65 mph (105 km/h, 56 kn)
- Maximum glide ratio: 6
References edit
- ^ Air Trails: 80. Winter 1971.
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- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 352.
- Hardy, Michael (1982). Gliders and Sailplanes of the World. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 38.
- AirVenture Museum website