Silent Glider M
Role Ultralight trike motor glider
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Silent Family
Designer Helmut Grossklaus
Status In production (2013)

The Silent Family Silent Glider M is a German ultralight trike motor glider, designed by Helmut Grossklaus and produced by Silent Family of Westerrade. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1]

Design and development

The Silent Glider M was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category and the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules. It features a cable-braced rigid hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift pitch controls and aerodynamic roll controls, a single-seat enclosed cockpit with a bubble canopy, retractable tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from composites, with its double surface rigid wing mounted with the pitch control bar though a slot in the bubble canopy. The pilot seating position is reclined. Various rigid wings can be used and the typical one has a 14.0 m (45.9 ft) span. The powerplant is a single cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, 28 hp (21 kW) Hirth F33 engine or, optionally, a Geiger or Flytec electric motor, powering a two-bladed folding composite propeller. With the Hirth engine the aircraft has an empty weight of 118.5 kg (261 lb) and a gross weight of 231 kg (509 lb), giving a useful load of 112.5 kg (248 lb). With full fuel of 22 litres (4.8 imp gal; 5.8 US gal) the payload is 97 kg (214 lb).[1]

The Silent Glider M can use the Aeros Stalker, A-I-R Atos or Flight Design Exxtacy wings, which are provided by the builder. The fuselage and wing combination produces a 20:1 glide ratio and a minimum sink rate of 0.8 m/s (160 ft/min).[2][3]

Variants

Silent Glider M
Version powered by a 28 hp (21 kW) Hirth F33 petrol engine[1]
Silent Glider e-M
Version powered by a Geiger electric motor, introduced in 2009[1]
Silent Glider ME
Version powered by a Flytec HPD10 electric motor[4]

Specifications (Silent Glider M)

Data from Bayerl[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 14 m (45 ft 11 in)
  • Wing area: 16 m2 (170 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 118.5 kg (261 lb)
  • Gross weight: 231 kg (509 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 22 litres (4.8 imp gal; 5.8 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Hirth F33 single cylinder, air-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 21 kW (28 hp)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed composite, folding

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 100 km/h (62 mph, 54 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 90 km/h (56 mph, 49 kn)
  • Stall speed: 40 km/h (25 mph, 22 kn)
  • Maximum glide ratio: 20:1
  • Rate of climb: 3.4 m/s (670 ft/min)
  • Rate of sink: 0.8 m/s (160 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 14.4 kg/m2 (2.9 lb/sq ft)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 221. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. ↑ Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 58. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. ↑ Grossklaus, Helmut (2006). "Silent Glider M". Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  4. ↑ Silent Family (2006). "Silent Glider ME". Retrieved 30 August 2013.
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