Aviamilano A2
| Aviamilano A2 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Aviamilano A3 | |
| Role | Competition sailplane |
| National origin | Italy |
| Manufacturer | Aviamilano Construzioni Aeronautitche |
| Designer | Carlo and Francis Ferrarin and Livio Sonzio |
| First flight | 1964 |
| Number built | 5 |
The Aviamilano A2 or A2 Standard is an Italian high performance Standard Class sailplane first flown in 1964 and returned to production in 1966.[1][2]
Design and development[edit]
The A2 was designed in the early 1960s at the Polytechnic University of Milan by Carlo Ferrarin, his cousin Francis Ferrarin and Livio Sonzio. Their aim was to build a low cost, light weight but high performance glider.[3]
The A2 is a single-seat cantilever mid-wing monoplane, its high-aspect-ratio wing built around an all-metal torsion box and spar.[4] It is skinned with light alloy and has significant dihedral.[3] In plan the wing has a constant chord central section occupying about half the span, with separable straight tapered outer panels. The centre section trailing edges carries air brakes.[4]
Its fuselage is similar to that of the Aviamilano CPV1, with a wooden structure and ovoid cross-section. As before, the rear part is plywood skinned, but the forward part is covered with glass fibre.[4] A long, single, semi-reclining seat[3] cockpit with a single piece canopy following the fuselage contours is placed ahead of the leading edge. Under it, a rubber-sprung landing skid reaches aft to a retractable single wheel under the forward wing. The fuselage tapers rearwards to a T-tail quite different from the CPV1's conventional empennage, with a swept, straight tapered fin and rudder carrying a cantilever, tapered, one-piece all-moving horizontal tail fitted with a central anti-balance tab.[4]
The A2 first flew in 1964[2] and a short production run began in 1966.[1] In all, five were built,[2] one of which remained on the Italian civil register in 2010.[5]
An Open-class version of the A2 was produced with 18 m (59 ft 1 in) wings as the Aviamilano A3.
Variants[edit]
- A2 or A2 Standard
- 15 m span Standard Class.
- A3
- 18 m Open Class version.[3]
Specifications (Aviamilano A2)[edit]
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1966-67 p.394[4]
General characteristics
- Capacity: One
- Length: 7.04 m (23 ft 1 in)
- Wingspan: 15.00 m (49 ft 3 in)
- Wing area: 11.85 m2 (127.6 sq ft)
- Aspect ratio: 19
- Airfoil: Wortmann FX-61-163
- Empty weight: 190 kg (419 lb)
- Gross weight: 310 kg (683 lb)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 260 km/h (160 mph, 140 kn) smooth air
- Stall speed: 58 km/h (36 mph, 31 kn)
- Maximum glide ratio: 34:1 best, at 87 km/h (54 mph)
- Rate of sink: 0.62 m/s (122 ft/min) minimum,66 km/h(41 mph) at
- Wing loading: 24.0 kg/m2 (4.9 lb/sq ft)
References[edit]
- ^ a b Hardy, Michael (1982). Gliders & Sailplanes of the World. London: Ian Allan Ltd. pp. 14–15. ISBN 0 7110 1152 4.
- ^ a b c "Aviomilano A-2". Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ^ a b c d Pedrielli, Vincenzo; Camastra, Francesco (2011). Italian Vintage Sailplanes. Königswinter: EQIP Werbung & Verlag GmbH. pp. 228–9. ISBN 9783980883894.
- ^ a b c d e Taylor, John W R (1966). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1966-67. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd. p. 395.
- ^ Partington, Dave (2010). European registers handbook 2010. Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 978-0-85130-425-0.
