Avian Rio
{{Short description|British hang glider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Rio | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Hang glider | national origin=United Kingdom | manufacturer=Avian Limited | designer=Steve Elkins and Neil Hammerton | first flight= | introduced= | retired= | status=In production | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Avian Rio is a British high-wing, single-place, recreational hang glider, designed by Steve Elkins and Neil Hammerton and produced by Avian Limited of Hope Valley, Derbyshire.Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 42. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X{{cite web|url=http://www.avian.hanggliding.dk/html/SpecSheets/Spec1_rio.php |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130106121459/http://www.avian.hanggliding.dk/html/SpecSheets/Spec1_rio.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-06 |title=Rio 15 |accessdate=6 February 2012 |last=Avian Limited |date=n.d. }}
Design and development
The Rio was designed as a sports glider for recreational local and cross-country flying, while still being light in weight and easy to fly.
The Rio 15 model the sole version produced and is made from aluminum tubing, with the wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its {{convert|9.4|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a nose angle of 120° and an aspect ratio of 6:1. The acceptable pilot hook-in weight is {{convert|61|to|95|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. The model number indicates the wing area in square metres.
The glider can be broken down to a {{convert|27.3|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} package, {{convert|3.8|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} in length for ground transportation on a car top.
Specifications (Rio 15)
{{Aircraft specs
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|crew=one
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|length note=
|span m=9.4
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|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=15
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=6:1
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=25.5
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=rigged ready for flight
|gross weight kg=135.5
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|more general=
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|max speed kmh=
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|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
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|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=24
|stall speed mph=
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|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=80
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=in turbulent air
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|sink rate ms=1.0
|sink rate ftmin=
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=9.0
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|more performance=
}}
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140117210539/http://www.avian.hanggliding.dk/html/SpecSheets/Spec1_rio.php Official webpage archive] on Archive.org
{{Avian Limited aircraft}}