LAK-17B FES flight for MAX altitude gaining
At 2010-10-09 with LAK-17B FES is performed flight for MAX altitude gaining with fully loaded batteries.
Flight was done at Pociunai airfield EYPR, climb where started from 200m. and finished on 1200m. with a battery discharging till low limit 79 Volts, with 1-2 min. flight time reserve. Pilot weight with parachute 105 kg. speed of climb from 82 till 100km/h.
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INCREASED FIN AREA ON LAK-17B
- easier handling in thermals
- better soaring performance
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LAK-17B NEW WINGLETS
- nice shape;
- better stability in thermals;
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Impressions about LAK-17B FES from WGC 2010 in Szeged, Hungary
Pilot Vytautas Mačiulis has shared the impressions about FES ( Front Electric Sustainer ).
His glider LAK-17B, LY-AUQ, competition marks KM, was converted to LAK-17B-FES (Front Electric Sustainer), just few days before WGC 2010 in Szeged, Hungary.
Luka Žnidaršič, LAK dealer in Slovenia, has done perfect job. He designed and installed reliable electric engine in front of the glider. He did a very nice job and minimized drag from the blades and spinner. The FES looks very nice and the performance is fantastic.
My first flight I did in Slovenia, near Ljubljana. The first impression was like flying with no engine at all: the propeller blades are invisible, because they are located on the sides of the fuselage, below canopy; there is no additional noise; no sensible drag. It was very easy to start the engine and monitor power settings. I flew about 10 minutes with the engine running. Stopped and started it 8-10 times without any stress.
Further flights were conducted during WGC in Szeged, Hungary. Many times I flew in gaggles with other gliders and did not see any difference in performance due to additional possible drag in the frontal part of the fuselage. Due to poor weather conditions, I could not compare the glider at very high speeds and flying cloud streets. I was not very good as competitor myself, because of too little training on the LAK-17B which is new glider for me and I did only 15-20 hrs on the type.
I did 3 FANTASTIC return flights using the electric engine, which started without any stress. 65 km was maximum distance which I flew with the engine, and I had about 30-35% of energy remaining after landing. I met few thermals during flights back and in case of doubt if I had enough energy to get back to the airfield, I could easily use thermals and increase the distance.
I made such positive conclusions:
- There is no sensible drag from the blades and spinner in the front. No additional noise which indicates drag.
- The engine starts without stress and is reliable.
- No need to wear a headset: you may hear radio with the engine running.
- Easy to stop the engine and continue soaring when entering the thermal and save the battery power. In case, you lose the thermal the engine may be started again. This feature may be very valuable during training flights.
- Long distances may be covered during training flights, because areas without or with week thermals may be over flown.
- No need to have a team/helper/driver during training cross country flights.
- It takes only 4-5 hrs to recharge the batteries.
- The system is Nature Friendly!!!
More about FES and FES on World Gliding Championship in Szeged HERE
"Termikas" and "Sportine Aviacija ir Ko" are ready to manufacture gyroplanes
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An autogyro, also known as gyroplane, gyrocopter, or rotaplane, is a type, of rotorcraft which uses an unpowered rotor in autorotation to develop lift, and an engine-powered propeller, similar to that of a fixed-wing aircraft, to provide thrust.
While similar to a helicopter rotor in appearance, the autogyro's rotor must have air flowing up and through the rotor disc in order to generate rotation. Invented by Juan de la Cierva to create an aircraft that could safely fly at slow speeds, the autogyro was first flown on 9 January 1923, at Cuatro Vientos Airfield in Madrid.
LAK -17B FES after the WGC 2010
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LAK-17BT test flight, 2 July 2010
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FES for new LAK17B sailplane!
During Aero 2010 we agreed with our Slovenian daelers and Front Electro System designer , LZ design d.o.o. , that now on their range of single seat sailplanes can be ordered with FES system or FES prepared fuselage.
LAK-17B FES, New FAI 15-18m class sailplane, with max TO weight 600kg
LAK-17A FES, FAI 15m - 18m class sailplane
LAK-19 FES, FAI Standard - 18m class sailplane
Front Electric Sustainer - FES on Aero 2010 - Friedrichshafen
First public presenation of LAK-FES was on Aero 2010 132 From 8 to 11 April.
Photos of new propeller blades which was also first time shown you can see in Picasa web gallery
Movie of FES show run from Aero is available click here
EASA DOA A/P approval
JSC "Sportine aviacja ir Ko" received EASA Design Organisation Aproval for Alternativ Procedures.
EASA finding of compliance, Issue 2
Newly established Company JSC „Sportine aviacija ir Ko“
Instead of UAB "Sportine Aviacija" was established new Company - JSC "Sportine Aviacija ir Ko".
Dear Owners and Dealers of the LAK gliders, Dear Friends,
I want to introduce our newly established Company JSC „Sportine aviacija ir Ko“and to express our Vision and Mission statement.
The new owners of the Company are JSC „Termikas“ and few private persons. „Termikas“ is well known in general aviation market due to the highest quality standards in rebuilding, modifying and finishes of airplanes and engines ( www.termikas.com ), with 17 years experience in composite, metal and wooden constructions.
Our vision is:
- Competitive Products of the Highest quality standards;
- Timely deliveries;
- Very competitive market prices;
- Attention to the end users remarks and needs.
The initial Mission of the Company is to continue traditions of Lithuanian modern glider building industry, which started 40 years ago with the first composite glider BK-7 LIETUVA and grew up to the modern LAK-17B and LAK-20. The Company will not only design and manufacture new products, but will take over and support older gliders: LAK-12, LAK-17A, LAK-17AT, LAK-19 and LAK-19AT with parts and needed documents.
I want to thank you in advance for your backup regarding quality and other problems, which you may find in our products and I promise you that all your complains will be answered immediately, needed spare parts will be shipped within the shortest possible time and exactly as initially promised.
Your remarks will be accepted and understood as free feedback and golden property of the Company, but not as and insult in any way.
The most often defects, which you mention in your letters and discussions, have already been corrected or are under the process:
- The life time extension program has been initiated;
- Acryl type paint will help to avoid peeling off in places where the plastic tape is usually applied;
- Installed Automatic connection of the ailerons on the LAK-17B;
- Rudder surface enlargement;
- Fuselage batteries position replacement to lower position;
- Ailerons trailing edge lining up;
- Most of the pushrods in the cockpit redesigned and made from stainless steel;
- Leather (or on-request) interior elements, sheep skin seat and headrest;
- Leather handles on the control elements;
- Nextel paint materials obtained for the instrument panel;
- Continuous search of the best quality anodising.
As you all understand, there are some difficulties which our new Company must overcome and some of them do not only depend on our efforts. The certification process of the Company with EASA and CAA is in progress. Even during dark and cloudy winter days we continue test flight program on the LAK-17B and LAK-20 gliders to get them certified in the possibly soonest time period.
We are looking forward to our prosperous cooperation.
Vytautas Maciulis, Director
New Winglet of the LAK-19 and LAK-17A
New winglet is designed of Krzysztof Kubrynski, PhD
There is his technical describing of new winglet:
Induced drag should be reduced by a factor delta Kv of an order 0,08 - 0,09 and should improve final sailplane performance significantly ( especially circling/climb ). Pressure distribution on a final geometry is correct exept a section just near the end of existing wing.
FAI has ratified the following Class D (Gliders) World records
Claim number : 15691
Sub-class : D15 (15m Class Gliders)
Category: General
Type of record : Speed over a triangular course of 500 km
Course/location : Bitterwasser (Namibia)
Performance : 162.8 km/h
Pilot : Johan LUYCKX (Belgium)
Glider : LAK 17AT / Lithuanian Aviation Construction
Date : 14.12.2009
Previous record : 158.43 km/h (18.10.1998 - Terrence Raymond DELORE, New Zealand)
EASA.A.C.12123
EASA approved EASA.A.C.12123 Bulletin No.012.9.Re.003A "Glider LAK-12 calendar service time 15 years changing to exploitation by technical conditions of sailplane." Download
LAK17BT First flight
LAK-17BT first test flight. Foto