Roberts Cygnet
{{Short description|American homebuilt glider}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Cygnet | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Glider | national origin=United States | manufacturer= | designer=Donald Roberts | first flight=1992 | introduced= | retired= | status=Production completed | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=One | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Roberts Cygnet is an American high-wing, cruciform tail, single-seat, glider that was designed and produced by Donald Roberts as a contender for the IGC World Class sailplane.{{Cite web|url = http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?planeID=66|title = Cygnet Roberts|accessdate = 25 August 2011|last = Activate Media|year = 2006|url-status = dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120902052240/http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?planeID=66|archivedate = 2 September 2012}}
Design and development
The Cygnet was the sole US entrant in the competition for the World Class sailplane, losing out to the Polish Politechnika Warszawska PW-5. As a result only one Cygnet was completed. The prototype was finished and first flown in 1992
The aircraft is made from steel tubing and aluminium, with fiberglass fairings. Its {{convert|13|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing employs a Somers-Maughmer SM701 airfoil and features balanced top and bottom DFS-style air brakes for glidepath control. A ballistic parachute was to be standard equipment.{{Cite web|url = http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|title = The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |accessdate = 1 August 2011|last = Lednicer |first = David |authorlink = |year = 2010}}
Operational history
In August 2011 the sole Cygnet built was still listed on the US Federal Aviation Administration registry.{{Cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=5149J|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 15 August 2011|last = Federal Aviation Administration|authorlink = |date=August 2011}}
Specifications (Cygnet)
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|span m=13
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|wing area sqft=103
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|aspect ratio=18:1
|airfoil=Somers-Maughmer SM701
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=364
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|gross weight lb=606
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|wing loading lb/sqft=5.88
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See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://a2.l3-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/90/e4557d39a764a75a5aa1cf58f6cec365/l.jpg Photo of the Cygnet]
{{World class sailplane competitors}}
Category:1990s United States sailplanes