Strojnik S-2

S-2
Role Motor glider
National origin United States
Designer Aleš Strojnik
First flight 1980
Introduction 1980
Status Production completed
Number built at least 8

The Strojnik S-2 is an American high-wing, single-seat motor glider that was designed and built by Aleš Strojnik.[1][2][3]

Design and development

Strojnik completed and flew his S-2 design in 1980.[1][2]

The S-2 is of mixed construction. The 49.2 ft (15 m) span wings consist of fiberglass skins built around a carbon fiber and aluminium spars. The wings employ a Wortmann FX 67-170/17 airfoil and have flaps for glidepath control. The wings are a constant chord design, with tapered wing tips. The fuselage is a pod-and-boom design, with the cockpit area made from wood, covered in fiberglass and the tail boom made from aluminium. The tail surfaces are of carbon fiber structure, covered in fiberglass. The powerplant is a Kohler Company engine of 28 hp (21 kW) that drives a folding two-bladed propeller. The engine is mounted in pusher configuration behind the cockpit, with the tail boom running underneath the propeller. The landing gear consists of two small wheels mounted in tandem on the fuselage centerline.[1][2][4]

A two-seat version with the same external dimensions was reportedly under development in 1983.[2]

Strojnik reported that 22 sets of plans had been sold by 1983.[2]

Operational history

Strojnik earned his silver badge flying the S-2. The prototype S-2 is no longer on the Federal Aviation Administration registry, but at least eight were built and in July 2011 six remain on the US register, including three S-2s and three S-2As.[2][3]

Variants

S-2
Initial version
S-2A
Improved version
S-4 "Laminar Magic"
One-off, registration number N85AS. Smaller, short-wing version, which set a US national aviation speed record in FAI Category C-1a/0 (European microlight, under 300kg gross weight) in 1987.[5][6]
S-5
One-off aircraft, registration number N51152.[7] Added slightly greater wingspan to existing S-4 fuselage for better performance in recreational flying.[citation needed]

Specifications (S-2)

Data from Sailplane Directory and Soaring[1][2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Length: 22.6 ft (6.9 m)
  • Wingspan: 49.2 ft (15.0 m)
  • Wing area: 127 sq ft (11.8 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 19:1
  • Airfoil: Wortmann FX 67-170/17
  • Empty weight: 617 lb (280 kg)
  • Gross weight: 980 lb (445 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Kohler Company , 28 hp (21 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed folding

Performance

  • Stall speed: 38 mph (61 km/h, 33 kn) at a wing loading of 6.6 lb/sq ft
  • Never exceed speed: 149 mph (240 km/h, 129 kn)
  • Maximum glide ratio: 34:1 at 55 mph (89 km/h)
  • Rate of climb: 350 ft/min (1.8 m/s)
  • Rate of sink: 132 ft/min (0.67 m/s) at 42 mph (68 km/h)
  • Wing loading: 7.7 lb/sq ft (38 kg/m2)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Activate Media (2006). "S-2 Strojnik". Archived from the original on June 29, 2002. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Said, Bob: 1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, page 133. Soaring Society of America, November 1983. USPS 499-920
  3. ^ a b Federal Aviation Administration (July 2011). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  4. ^ Lednicer, David (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". Archived from the original on April 20, 2010. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  5. ^ "Aerospace engineering at Reaction Research". www.reactionresearch.com. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  6. ^ "Sport Aviation". No. Nov 1989. Experimental Aviation Association. November 10, 1989.
  7. ^ Federal Aviation Administration (January 19, 2015). "N-Number Inquiry Results - N51152". Retrieved January 19, 2015.