The Schleicher Rhönbussard, otherwise known as the DFS Rhönbussard was intended as an intermediate glidertrainer which could also fly competitively. It was designed by Hans Jacobs in Germany in the early 1930s. More than 200 were built.
Rhönbussard
A Rhönbussard getting ready for flight in Argentina
By the early 1930s a large performance, size and cost gap had been opened between the kind of glider in which people learned to soar and make cross country flights, like the Grunau Baby, and the best sailplanes like the Schleicher Rhönadler. In 1932 the glider manufacturer Alexander Schleicher went to Hans Jacobs, then at the RRG (Rhön-Rossitten Gesellschaft) on the Wasserkuppe, to seek a design for a glider more advanced than the Baby but smaller, cheaper and easier to fly than Jacobs' Rhönadler. The result was the Rhönbussard (in English, the RhönBuzzard).[1] Since it was later produced at the Schleicher works, it is often attributed to them[2] but in 1933 the RRG was replaced by the state owned DFS (Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug) at Darmstadt, to which Jacobs moved and continued to refine the Rhönbussard, hence the alternative name.[3]
The Rhönbussard is an all wood and fabric aircraft, with a span 1.43 m (4 ft 8 in) greater than the Grunau Baby 1, a wing loading 50% higher and considerably more refined aerodynamically, with a cantilever wing and a smooth, oval section fuselage. The wing, lacking dihedral, has a parallel chord centre section and straight tapered outer panels ending in semi-ellipticaltips. It is built around a single spar with plywood covering forward to form a torsion resisting D-box. Behind the spar the wing is fabric covered. The whole span of the trailing edge of the outer panels carries ailerons. The earliest Rhönbussards had no lift losing or drag increasing surfaces but later examples followed the development of these at the DFS: first with spoilers deployed above the upper wing surface, then with DFS-type airbrakes rotating out of both surfaces on a common span-wise axis at about mid-chord and finally with parallel ruler action Schempp-Hirth brakes mounted just behind the spar.[1]
The wing is mounted on a low pedestal, faired aft into the main fuselage. This is slightly shorter than that of the Baby and for centre of gravity reasons the Rhönbussard's open cockpit is under the leading edge of the wing, restricting the pilot's upward and rear view. The fuselage tapers to the rear and is ply covered all over apart from a metal nose cone, including the fin and tail bumper. The fin is narrow and straight edged but the fabric covered rudder, extending down to the keel, is full and more rounded. The fabric covered, straight tapered and square tipped horizontal tail is placed on top of the fuselage, with its trailing edge forward of the rudder hinge.[1] The Rhönbussard took off on a jettisonable two wheeled dolly, leaving a long skid for landing.[2]
As intended the Rhönbussard proved popular, providing good performance at a moderate cost, and more than two hundred were built by Schleicher. Sixteen of them competed at the 15th Rhön International meeting in 1934, where they were only outnumbered by Grunau Babys.[1] Two years later at the same meeting Eugen Wagner managed a 325 km (202 mi) flight and many other flights of 200–300 km (124–186 mi) were made over the years. At competitions it regularly did well.[4]
One Rhönbussard almost set a sailplane world altitude record in 1936. Piloted by Hermann Seeler, it reached more than 5,000 m (16,400 ft), but he lost control in cloud and the aircraft broke up. Seeler escaped by parachute but his sealed barometer was not so fortunate, leaving his feat unrecorded. Despite this failure, the Rhönbussard's structure was strong and the type was used by several pioneers of glider aerobatics in displays.[1]
Three Rhönbussards remained on European civil aircraft registers in 2010, two in Germany and one in Belgium. One of the German aircraft had at one time served with the Royal Air Force under civil registration.[5]
Aircraft on displayedit
Deutsches Segelflugmuseum mit Modellflug, Wasserkuppe: Rhönbussard.[6]
^ abcdefSimons, Martin (2006). Sailplanes 1920-1945 (2nd revised ed.). Königswinter: EQIP Werbung & Verlag GmbH. pp. 110–112. ISBN3-9806773-4-6.
^ abHardy, Michael (1982). Gliders & Sailplanes of the World. London: Ian Allan Ltd. pp. 97–8. ISBN0-7110-1152-4.
^Zuerl, Hubert (1941). Segelflug. Berlin: E. S. Mittler & Sohn. p. 28.
^ abBrütting, Georg (1973). Die berümtesten Segelflugzeuge. Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag. p. 46. ISBN3-87943-171-X.
^Partington, Dave (2010). European registers handbook 2010. Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN978-0-85130-425-0.
^Ogden, Bob (2011). Aviation Museums and Collections of North America (2nd ed.). Tonbridge, Kent: Air-Britain (Historians). p. 210. ISBN0-85130-427-3.
External linksedit
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Göttingen 535 airfoil
April 13, 2024
schleicher, rhönbussard, otherwise, known, rhönbussard, intended, intermediate, glider, trainer, which, could, also, competitively, designed, hans, jacobs, germany, early, 1930s, more, than, were, built, rhönbussarda, rhönbussard, getting, ready, flight, argen. The Schleicher Rhonbussard otherwise known as the DFS Rhonbussard was intended as an intermediate glider trainer which could also fly competitively It was designed by Hans Jacobs in Germany in the early 1930s More than 200 were built RhonbussardA Rhonbussard getting ready for flight in ArgentinaRole Single seat competition and training gliderNational origin GermanyManufacturer Alexander Schleicher GmbH amp CoDesigner Hans JacobsFirst flight 1933Number built 200 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Aircraft on display 4 Specifications 5 References 6 External linksDesign and development editBy the early 1930s a large performance size and cost gap had been opened between the kind of glider in which people learned to soar and make cross country flights like the Grunau Baby and the best sailplanes like the Schleicher Rhonadler In 1932 the glider manufacturer Alexander Schleicher went to Hans Jacobs then at the RRG Rhon Rossitten Gesellschaft on the Wasserkuppe to seek a design for a glider more advanced than the Baby but smaller cheaper and easier to fly than Jacobs Rhonadler The result was the Rhonbussard in English the Rhon Buzzard 1 Since it was later produced at the Schleicher works it is often attributed to them 2 but in 1933 the RRG was replaced by the state owned DFS Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fur Segelflug at Darmstadt to which Jacobs moved and continued to refine the Rhonbussard hence the alternative name 3 The Rhonbussard is an all wood and fabric aircraft with a span 1 43 m 4 ft 8 in greater than the Grunau Baby 1 a wing loading 50 higher and considerably more refined aerodynamically with a cantilever wing and a smooth oval section fuselage The wing lacking dihedral has a parallel chord centre section and straight tapered outer panels ending in semi elliptical tips It is built around a single spar with plywood covering forward to form a torsion resisting D box Behind the spar the wing is fabric covered The whole span of the trailing edge of the outer panels carries ailerons The earliest Rhonbussards had no lift losing or drag increasing surfaces but later examples followed the development of these at the DFS first with spoilers deployed above the upper wing surface then with DFS type airbrakes rotating out of both surfaces on a common span wise axis at about mid chord and finally with parallel ruler action Schempp Hirth brakes mounted just behind the spar 1 The wing is mounted on a low pedestal faired aft into the main fuselage This is slightly shorter than that of the Baby and for centre of gravity reasons the Rhonbussard s open cockpit is under the leading edge of the wing restricting the pilot s upward and rear view The fuselage tapers to the rear and is ply covered all over apart from a metal nose cone including the fin and tail bumper The fin is narrow and straight edged but the fabric covered rudder extending down to the keel is full and more rounded The fabric covered straight tapered and square tipped horizontal tail is placed on top of the fuselage with its trailing edge forward of the rudder hinge 1 The Rhonbussard took off on a jettisonable two wheeled dolly leaving a long skid for landing 2 The Rhonbussard first flew in 1933 1 Operational history editAs intended the Rhonbussard proved popular providing good performance at a moderate cost and more than two hundred were built by Schleicher Sixteen of them competed at the 15th Rhon International meeting in 1934 where they were only outnumbered by Grunau Babys 1 Two years later at the same meeting Eugen Wagner managed a 325 km 202 mi flight and many other flights of 200 300 km 124 186 mi were made over the years At competitions it regularly did well 4 One Rhonbussard almost set a sailplane world altitude record in 1936 Piloted by Hermann Seeler it reached more than 5 000 m 16 400 ft but he lost control in cloud and the aircraft broke up Seeler escaped by parachute but his sealed barometer was not so fortunate leaving his feat unrecorded Despite this failure the Rhonbussard s structure was strong and the type was used by several pioneers of glider aerobatics in displays 1 Three Rhonbussards remained on European civil aircraft registers in 2010 two in Germany and one in Belgium One of the German aircraft had at one time served with the Royal Air Force under civil registration 5 Aircraft on display editDeutsches Segelflugmuseum mit Modellflug Wasserkuppe Rhonbussard 6 Specifications editData from Die Beruhmtesten Segelflugzeuge 4 General characteristicsCrew One Length 5 80 m 19 ft 0 in Wingspan 14 30 m 46 ft 11 in Wing area 14 10 m2 151 8 sq ft Aspect ratio 14 50 Airfoil Gottingen 535 Empty weight 150 kg 331 lb Gross weight 245 kg 540 lb Performance Stall speed 50 km h 31 mph 27 kn Never exceed speed 130 km h 81 mph 70 kn Maximum glide ratio 19 8 1 Rate of sink 0 75 m s 148 ft min Wing loading 17 4 kg m2 3 6 lb sq ft References edit a b c d e f Simons Martin 2006 Sailplanes 1920 1945 2nd revised ed Konigswinter EQIP Werbung amp Verlag GmbH pp 110 112 ISBN 3 9806773 4 6 a b Hardy Michael 1982 Gliders amp Sailplanes of the World London Ian Allan Ltd pp 97 8 ISBN 0 7110 1152 4 Zuerl Hubert 1941 Segelflug Berlin E S Mittler amp Sohn p 28 a b Brutting Georg 1973 Die berumtesten Segelflugzeuge Stuttgart Motorbuch Verlag p 46 ISBN 3 87943 171 X Partington Dave 2010 European registers handbook 2010 Air Britain Historians Ltd ISBN 978 0 85130 425 0 Ogden Bob 2011 Aviation Museums and Collections of North America 2nd ed Tonbridge Kent Air Britain Historians p 210 ISBN 0 85130 427 3 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rhonbussard Gottingen 535 airfoil Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Schleicher Rhonbussard amp oldid 1127512790, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
