Aeros Discus
{{Short description|Ukrainian hang glider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Discus | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Hang glider | national origin=Ukraine | manufacturer=Aeros | designer= | first flight= | introduced=2002 | retired= | status=In production | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Aeros Discus is a family of Ukrainian high-wing, single-place, hang gliders, designed and produced by Aeros of Kyiv and introduced in 2002.Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 41. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X{{Cite web|url = http://www.aeros.com.ua/structure/about/about_en.php|title = Chronicles of AEROS Company|accessdate = 2 February 2012|last = Aeros|date = 2008}}
Design and development
The Discus series was conceived as a single-place intermediate hang glider for recreational cross country flying.
Aeros explains the design role:
{{Blockquote|Not everyone has the desire or ability to take part in masters’ competitions. A lot of pilots just enjoy flying cross-country or soaring in familiar places without feeling the restraints of a hang glider for beginners. This problem is easily solved with the help of an intermediate glider. Such gliders combine rather high performance with simple piloting and maintaining. They are more comfortable in the air than competitive gliders and easier to land.{{Cite web|url = http://www.aeros.com.ua/structure/hg/discus_en.php|title = Discus|accessdate = 2 February 2012|last = Aeros|date = 2011}} }}
Typical of the line, the Discus 148 model is made from aluminium tubing, with the wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its {{convert|10.0|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing is cable braced with a kingpost. The nose angle is 128° and the aspect ratio is 7.3:1.
The wing is also used on the Aeros ANT and the British Flylight Dragonfly, Flylight Motorfloater and Flylight E-Dragon ultralight trikes in its Discus T configuration.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 212. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485XTacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 215. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}
Variants
;Discus
:Original model introduced as an intermediate glider in 2002.
;Discus 148
;Discus A
:Version sold in 2012, with {{convert|4.0|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} length when packed for ground transportation.
;Discus B
:Version sold in 2012, with {{convert|2.4|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} length when packed for ground transportation.
;Discus C
:Introduced in 2006, this model offers higher performance. It features a Matrix (Bainbridge) sail and Wills Wing Litestream down tubes, Wills Wing basebar with streamlined fittings and a Wills Wing Slipstream kingpost.{{Cite web|url = http://www.aeros.com.ua/structure/hg/discusC_en.php|title = Discus C|accessdate = 2 February 2012|last = Aeros|date = 2011}}
;Discus M
:Version with modified keel for use with Swedish Aerosport Mosquito and other power packages.
;Discus 15T
:Version of the basic Discus wing, reinforced and with a modified control bar, for use on small ultralight trikes.
Specifications (Discus 148)
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References
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External links
- {{Official website|http://www.aeros.com.ua/structure/hg/discus_en.php}}
{{Aeros aircraft}}