Ruppert Archaeopteryx

Archaeopteryx
Archaeopteryx S/N 003 being footlaunched by Roger Ruppert (Race version)
Role Glider
National origin Switzerland
Manufacturer Ruppert Composite GmbH
Designer Roger Ruppert
First flight September 2001
Introduction 2001
Status In series production
Produced 2010-present
Number built 10[1]
Unit cost
75,300 Swiss Francs (2011 base price)[2]

The Ruppert Archaeopteryx (English: ancient wing) is a Swiss high-wing, pod-and-boom, single-seat, microlift glider that was designed by Roger Ruppert and is produced by Ruppert Composite GmbH.[3][4][5]

The aircraft is named for the feathered Archaeopteryx dinosaur.

Design and development

The Archaeopteryx was conceived as a foot-launchable microlift sailplane, with the design goals of a light empty weight, low stall speed with gentle stall characteristics, good maneuverability and good high speed performance. A further goal was a sailplane that could be foot-launched in zero wind conditions.[3]

The Archaeopteryx design started in 1998 at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHW) as a research project. The first flight of the initial prototype was in September 2001. Based on initial lessons the prototype was modified and reflown in May 2002. Further flight tests and modifications were carried out, with the prototype re-flying in its new form in March 2003. The production prototype design was started in 2006 and completed in 2009. The first series production started in the summer of 2009 and production deliveries to customers commenced in May 2010. By the summer of 2012 ten aircraft had been delivered to customers in Australia, Argentina, Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland.[1][4][6]

Archaeopteryx standard version, Mollis, June 2011
View from inside Archaeopteryx during flight
Archaeopteryx comparison (used with explicit permission from Roger Ruppert)
Archaeopteryx prototype with dual electric motors in May 2012

The company is developing a prototype equipped with two electric motors to provide self-launch capability.[7]

The controls are conventional, with a stick for ailerons and elevator and rudder pedals. The aircraft uses flaps for glidepath control, which function as airbrakes when set to 45-70 degrees. A ballistic parachute with an area of 62 m2 (670 sq ft) is also fitted. The aircraft can be rigged for flight by one person in 15 minutes. It has been launched by foot, aero-tow, bungee launch, auto-tow and winch-launch and has been landed on its wheel and foot-landed as well.[8][9][10][11]

The aircraft can accommodate pilots from 165 to 195 cm (65 to 77 in) in height and 55 to 100 kg (121 to 220 lb).[12]

Variants

Archaeopteryx Standard
Basic design without cockpit fairing[13]
Archaeopteryx Performance
Basic design, with cockpit fairing. No longer in production.[13][14]
Archaeopteryx Race
Basic design, with cockpit fairing and windshield[13]
Elec'teryx
Race version with electrical propulsion, self-launch capable, introduced mid 2014. A handful have been sold (retrofitted to earlier sold models). Take off roll distance is 50 m and rate of climb when fully charged is 2.5 m/s. It can run at full throttle for 11 min on one charge.[15]

Specifications (Archaeopteryx)

Data from Sailplane Directory, company website and flight manual[3][12][16]

General characteristics

Performance

Avionics

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

  1. 1 2 Ruppert Composite GmbH (August 2012). "plane locations". Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  2. ↑ Ruppert Composite GmbH (June 2011). "Prices Archaeopteryx".
  3. 1 2 3 Activate Media (2006). "Archaeopteryx Ruppert Composite GmbH". Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  4. 1 2 Ruppert Composite GmbH (August 2011). "Development Steps". Archived from the original on 6 October 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  5. ↑ Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 42. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  6. ↑ "Development history Archaeopteryx". Ruppert-composite.ch. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
  7. ↑ Ruppert Composite GmbH (August 2012). "Archaeopteryx prototype electric flight". Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  8. ↑ Ruppert Composite GmbH (August 2011). "Control Systems". Archived from the original on 6 October 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  9. ↑ Ruppert Composite GmbH (August 2011). "Safety". Archived from the original on 2 February 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  10. ↑ Ruppert Composite GmbH (August 2011). "Rigging". Archived from the original on 6 October 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  11. ↑ Ruppert Composite GmbH (August 2011). "Take-off and landing". Archived from the original on 2 February 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  12. 1 2 Ruppert Composite GmbH (August 2011). "Data". Archived from the original on 4 February 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  13. 1 2 3 Ruppert Composite GmbH (August 2011). "Versions". Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  14. ↑ "Cockpit versions". Ruppert-composite.ch. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
  15. ↑ Roger Ruppert. "The electric drive system is ready!". ruppert-composite.ch. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  16. ↑ Provisorisches Flughandbuch für den Hängegleiter / das Gleitflugzeug Archaeopteryx; Version 1.6; 30. April 2011; Ruppert Composite GmbH
  17. ↑ "Instrumentation". Ruppert-composite.ch. Retrieved 2012-08-25.

External links

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