Gehrlein GP-1
{{Short description|American glider}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=GP-1 | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Glider | national origin=United States | manufacturer= | designer=Jay and Rod Gehrlein | first flight=July 1968 | introduced= | retired= | status=Kits no longer available | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=At least five | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Gehrlein GP-1 is an American mid-wing, single seat FAI Standard Class glider that was designed by Jay and Rod Gehrlein and first flown in July 1968.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?PlaneID=125 |title=GP-1 Gehrlein |accessdate=11 May 2011 |last=Activate Media |year=2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819220225/http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?PlaneID=125 |archivedate=19 August 2012 }}Said, Bob: 1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, page 43. Soaring Society of America November 1983. USPS 499-920
Design and development
When their father, glider pilot Larry Gehrlein was on an extended vacation, his two sons, Rod and Jay decided to design and build a new glider as a surprise for his return. The resulting GP-1 was designed and built in under a year, between the summer of 1968 and the summer of 1969.
Unlike Larry Gehrlein's earlier Gehrlein Precursor, the GP-1 is an original design and uses no Schweizer Aircraft parts in its construction.
The GP-1 is an all-metal aircraft, with a {{convert|15|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} wingspan. The wing is of a constant {{convert|30|in|cm|0|abbr=on}} chord and employs a Wortmann FX-61-184 airfoil. Glide path control is via a set of scissor-type spoilers and air brakes. The design was intended to be simple to construct. Kits were at one time offered for sale with at least five aircraft being completed.
Operational history
In May 2011 there were still four GP-1s on the Federal Aviation Administration registry.{{Cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=GP-1&PageNo=1|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 15 May 2011|last = Federal Aviation Administration|authorlink = |date=May 2011}}
Specifications (GP-1)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Sailplane Directory and Soaring
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=One
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=
|length in=
|length note=
|span m=15
|span ft=
|span in=
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=120
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=20:1
|airfoil=Wortmann FX-61-184
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=458
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=662
|gross weight note=
|more general=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=35:1 at 60 mph (97 km/h)
|sink rate ms=
|sink rate ftmin=120
|sink rate note=at 50 mph (80 km/h)
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=5.5
|wing loading note=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}