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Glasflügel 401

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401 Kestrel
Glasflügel 401 Kestrel
General information
TypeOpen class sailplane
National originGermany
ManufacturerGlasflügel
Designer
Number built129
History
First flight9 August 1968

The Glasflügel 401 "Kestrel" is a glider that was developed in 1968 for the open class. It has a wingspan of 17 metres. It is named after the kestrel bird.

History

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Between 1968 and 1975 Glasflügel built 129 Kestrels.

The British company Slingsby built the Kestrel under license as the T59 and T59B. The T59B has a wingspan of 19 metres and was developed for the 1970 World Gliding Championships.[1]

On 18 May 2005, Gordon Boettger flew 2061 km in his Kestrel in lee waves along the Sierra Nevada in the USA.[2]

Specifications

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General characteristics

  • Crew: One pilot
  • Length: 6.72 m (22 ft 1 in)
  • Wingspan: 17.00 m (55 ft 9 in)
  • Wing area: 11.6 m2 (125 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 25
  • Empty weight: 260 kg (570 lb)
  • Gross weight: 400 kg (880 lb)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 250 km/h (160 mph, 140 kn)
  • Maximum glide ratio: 43:1

See also

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Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Notes

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  1. ^ Ellison, Norman (1971), British Gliders and Sailplanes, p.230. A & C Black, Limited, London. ISBN 0-7136-1189-8
  2. ^ FAI 2000 km Flight Register Archived 2011-10-20 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2012-01-02

References

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