Bowlus BS-100 Super Albatross

BS-100 Super Albatross
A Bowlus BS-100 Super Albatross in flight
Role	Glider
National origin	United States
Designer	Hawley Bowlus
First flight	1938
Number built	2
Developed from	Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross

The Bowlus BS-100 Super Albatross is a single seat, mid-wing glider that was designed by Hawley Bowlus in 1938.^[1][2]

Design and development

The Super Albatross was created from a Baby Albatross fuselage pod and tail boom. The wings used the outer panels of the Senior Albatross. The resulting aircraft was of wooden construction, with the wings and tail surfaces covered in aircraft fabric. The tail boom is a metal tube.^[2]

Only two examples were constructed. The first was built by Bowlus and features an all-flying horizontal stabilizer. The second was built by Frank Kelsey and has a fixed horizontal stabilizer and flaps in addition to spoilers.^[2]

Aircraft on display

• National Soaring Museum^[3]
• US Southwest Soaring Museum^[4]

Specifications (Super Albatross)

Data from Soaring^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Wingspan: 45 ft 0 in (13.72 m)
• Wing area: 125 sq ft (11.6 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 15.7
• Airfoil: Gö 549, with the wingtips having a symmetrical airfoil
• Empty weight: 435 lb (197 kg)
• Gross weight: 645 lb (293 kg)

Performance

• Maximum glide ratio: 29:1 at 47 mph
• Rate of sink: 150 ft/min (0.76 m/s) at 42 mph
• Wing loading: 5.25 lb/sq ft (25.6 kg/m²)

References

1. Activate Media (2006). "Super Albatross BS-100 Bowlus". Retrieved 1 March 2011.
2. Said, Bob: 1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, page 6. Soaring Society of America, November 1983. USPS 499-920
3. National Soaring Museum (2011). "Sailplanes in Our Collection". Retrieved 26 February 2011.
4. US Southwest Soaring Museum (2010). "Sailplanes, Hang Gliders & Motor Gliders". Retrieved 26 May 2011.