Orlican VSO 10

VSO 10 Gradient
VSO 10 Gradient
Role	Club-class sailplane
Manufacturer	VSO (Vyvojova Skupina Orlican)
First flight	26 October 1976
Introduction	1979
Number built	225

The VSO 10 Vosa (Vosa - Gradient) is a Standard and Club-Class glider designed and manufactured in the Czechoslovak Republic from December 1978 as a replacement for the VT-116 Orlik II.^[1]

Development

Development of the VSO 10 started in 1972 and the first prototype flew on 16 September 1977. The Type Certificate was granted on 15 May 1979, with the first production gliders entering service with Czechoslovak aeroclubs soon after. In 1990 the company ceased production when they started to build Schempp-Hirth gliders. Schempp-Hirth are the current holders of the VSO 10 Type Certificate.^[1]

Design

The VSO 10 is a mixed-construction glider with wooden and steel tube structural members, aluminium alloy rear fuselage and glass-fibre sandwich skins. The wings are shoulder-mounted and the tailplane is mounted on top of the integral fin. Conventional control surfaces include all-wooden slotted ailerons, all-metal DFS airbrakes on the upper and lower surfaces of the wing and fabric-covered all-metal elevators and rudder. The undercarriage in the Standard Class aircraft is a manually retractable rubber-sprung monowheel with a drum brake, (non-retractable in the Club-Class aircraft), with a rubber-mounted steel skid under the tail. The pilot is accommodated in a fully reclined seat under a removable canopy rear segment and fixed forward segment. Provision is made for 56 l (15 US gal; 12 imp gal) water ballast, for use in strong lift conditions.^[1]

Variants

VSO 10B Vosa (Gradient)

Retractable landing gear variant

VSO 10C Vosa Club (Gradient Club)

Fixed landing gear variant

Specifications (VSO 10)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Length: 7 m (23 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 15 m (49 ft 3 in)
• Height: 1.38 m (4 ft 6 in)
• Wing area: 12 m² (130 sq ft)
• Airfoil: root:Wortmann FX-61-163 ; tip:Wortmann FX-60-126
• Empty weight: 250 kg (551 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 380 kg (838 lb)

Performance

• Stall speed: 68 km/h (42 mph; 37 kn)
• Never exceed speed: 250 km/h (155 mph; 135 kn) in smooth air

160 km/h (86 kn; 99 mph) in rough air

160 km/h (86 kn; 99 mph) on aero-tow

120 km/h (65 kn; 75 mph) on winch launch

• g limits: +5.3 -3.5
• Maximum glide ratio: 36 at 90 km/h (49 kn; 56 mph)
• Rate of sink: 0.64 m/s (126 ft/min) at 73 km/h (39 kn; 45 mph)
• Wing loading: 31.67 kg/m² (6.49 lb/sq ft) max

References

1. John W.R. Taylor, ed. (1988). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89. London: Jane's Information Group. pp. 620–621. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.

Further reading

• Hardy, Michael (1982). Gliders and Sailplanes of the World. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 138.
• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.

External links

• European Aviation Safety Agency - Type Certificate Data Sheet VSO 10