Allstar SZD-59
{{Short description|Polish single-seat glider, 1991}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name = SZD 59 Acro | image = PZL_Bielsko_SZD-59_Acro.jpg | caption = }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type = Club Class and aerobatic glider | national origin = Poland | manufacturer = Allstar PZL Glider Sp.z o.o. | designer = Jan Knapik[http://www.piotrp.de/SZYBOWCE/dszd59.htm Piotr Piechowski: SZD-59 Acro (German)] – accessed 2008-02-23 | first flight = 9 September 1991 | introduced = | retired = | status = | primary user = | number built = 2 prototypes and 23 or more serial ones | developed from = PZL Bielsko SZD-48-3 Jantar 3 | variants with their own articles = }} |
The SZD-59 Acro is a single-seat glass composite glider for aerobatics and cross-country flying by PZL Allstar of Bielsko-Biała, Poland.[http://www.szd.com.pl/products/59_acro_en.html Official SZD-59 Acro website] – accessed 2008-02-23[http://www.szd.com.pl/pdf/szd-59_acro_doku_en.pdf Technical description of the SZD-59 Acro on SZD's website] – accessed 2008-02-23; unavailable 2008-08-06, but equivalent to: [http://www.szd-segelflugzeuge.de/pdf/szd-59_acro_doku_de.pdf Technical description of the SZD-59 Acro on the website of the German dealer (in German)]{{Dead link|date=April 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} – accessed 2008-08-06[http://www.sagach.ch/Deutsch/Flugzeuge/SZD-59Acro.htm SAGA: SZD-59 Acro website (in German)] – accessed 2008-02-23
The SZD-59 can be flown with a 13.2m span or a 15.0m span. Attaching or detaching the wing-tips takes only a few minutes. With 15m wing-tips it is a competitive Club Class glider, while it is a competitive aerobatic glider in the 13.2m configuration.
Design and certification
The SZD-59 Acro was derived from the SZD-48-3 Jantar Standard 3 in 1990–91 mainly by Jan Knapik. The fuselage is only a slightly modified version of the one used in the Jantar Standard 3. However, the T-tail has been replaced by a cross-tail with larger rudder and the elevator of the SZD-42-2 Jantar 2.
The design life is 15,000 hours, though at present it is approved for only 4,000 hours of operation. In 15m configuration, the SZD-59 is approved in the utility category of JAR 22 (sailplanes) of the Joint Aviation Authorities, and in the 13.2m configuration it is approved according to the aerobatics category of JAR 22.British Gliding Association: [http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/technical/easa/tcds/5501_2.pdf Segelflugzeug-Kennblatt Nr.: 415 (German)] by the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt – accessed 2008-08-05
Manufacturer
The prototype was first demonstrated during the 1991 FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships in Zielona Góra. Twelve Acros were built by PZL-Bielsko until the production stopped in 1996 due to economic problems.
Allstar PZL Glider Sp. z o.o. in Bielsko-Biała (Poland) restarted production of the SZD-59 Acros in 2004. Currently, it is the only unlimited glider in serial production.
Soaring
With a handicap factor of 100, according to the 2008 handicap list of the Deutscher Aero Club e.V.,[http://www.daec.de/se/downfiles/2008/DMSt-WO2008.pdf 2008 DAeC Handicap list] – accessed 2008-02-23 the SZD-59 in 15m-configuration is a typical Club Class glider. With 15m wing-tips with or without winglets glide performance can be enhanced by increasing its wing loading with up to 150 litres of water ballast, but water ballast is not allowed in the 13.2m configuration.Flight handbook of the SZD-59 Acro
Aerobatics
In the 13.2m configuration, the SZD-59 is certified for unlimited aerobatics, whereas with the 15m wing-tips only basic aerobatic maneuvers (looping, turn, chandelle, spin) are permitted.
While international aerobatic championships in the unlimited category are dominated by Swift S-1 and MDM-1 Fox,FAI World and European Glider Aerobatic Championships – accessed 2008-08-05 pilots have competed successfully with SZD-59 Acros in national and regional championships. Recently, Wolfgang Kasper placed 4th in the German Nationals 2008.[http://www.flugplatz-rothenburg-goerlitz.de/Termine/DM_Segelkunstflug_2008/Ergebnisse/8_MST_Gesamt.pdf Results of the German Glider Aerobatic Championships 2008 (unlimited)]{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} – accessed 2008-08-02
Specifications in utility configuration
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=, maximum and maneuver speed according to
|prime units? = met
|crew=One
|length m=6.85
|length ft=22
|length in=5.69
|span m=15.00
|span ft=49
|span in=2.55
|height m=1.50
|height ft=4
|height in=11.06
|wing area sqm=10.66
|wing area sqft=114.74
|aspect ratio=21.01
|empty weight kg=270
|empty weight lb=595.24
|gross weight kg=540
|gross weight lb=1190.48
|max speed kmh=265
|max speed mph=164.67
|stall speed kmh=82
|stall speed note=*
|stall speed mph=50.95
|g limits = +5.3 / -2.65[https://web.archive.org/web/20110727041611/http://www.szd.com.pl/pdf/szd-59_acro_doku_en.pdf Allstar PZL Glider Sp website]
|glide ratio=40 at 124 km/h*
|sink rate ms=0.77
|sink rate note=**
|sink rate ftmin=151.57
}}
- Maneuver speed: 200 km/h
- Water ballast: 150l
- Wing loading range: 31.00-50.70 kg/m2
* at 540 kg
** at 97 km/h
Specifications in aerobatic configuration
File:SZD 59 Acro 6B D-4570 vl.jpg in 13.2m configuration)|thumb]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=, maximum and maneuver speed according to
|prime units? = met
|crew=One
|length m=6.85
|length ft=22
|length in=5.69
|span m=13.20
|span ft=43
|span in=3.69
|height m=1.50
|height ft=4
|height in=11.06
|wing area sqm=9.80
|wing area sqft=105.49
|aspect ratio=17.80
|empty weight kg=265
|empty weight lb=585.22
|gross weight kg=380
|gross weight lb=837.75
|max speed kmh=285
|max speed mph=177.10
|stall speed kmh=74
|stall speed note=*
|stall speed mph=45.98
|g limits = +7.00 / -5.00
|glide ratio=36 at 115 km/h
|sink rate ms=0.70
|sink rate note=**
|sink rate ftmin=137.80
}}
- Maneuver speed: 200 km/h
- Water ballast: 0l
- Wing loading range: 33.7-38.8 kg/m2calculated from data in [http://www.szd.com.pl/pdf/szd-59_acro_doku_en.pdf Datasheet of the SZD-59 Acro on the SZD-Website] – accessed 2008-02-23 – assuming a pilot weight of 55kg and 10kg trim weight
* at 380 kg
** at 80 km/h
See also
=Comparable aerobatic gliders=
The aerobatic performance of the SZD-59 13.2m is comparable to:
=Gliders with comparable cross-country performance=
The soaring performance of the SZD-59 15m is comparable to Schleicher ASW 19, Glaser-Dirks DG-100, Rolladen-Schneider LS1f, Glasflügel H206 Hornet, PZL Bialsko Jantar Standard, Grob G102 Standard Astir, Bölkow Phöbus B3, Schempp-Hirth Cirrus/Cirrus VTC 17,74m, Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus 16m, Bölkow Phöbus C1, Akaflieg Darmstadt D37, Akaflieg Braunschweig SB 7, Neukom Elfe 17m, Standard Libelle 17m and the Delphin 1 by Fritz Mahrer.[http://www.delphineins.de Das Projekt "Delphin 1" (German)] – accessed 2008-08-05
References
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{{PZL aircraft}}
{{Polish gliders}}
Category:1990s Polish sailplanes