Civil Aviation Department RG-1 Rohini

The Civil Aviation Department RG-1 Rohini (Literally means Tropic Bird)[1] is an Indian two-seat training sailplane of the 1960s. A high-winged wooden monoplane, with side-by-side seating;at least 107 were built.

RG-1 Rohini
Role Training sailplane
National origin India
Manufacturer Veegal Engines and Engineering/Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Designer S Ramamritham
First flight 10 May 1961
Number built 107

Development and design

The Technical Centre of the Indian Civil Aviation Department is its research and development arm, and started design and production of sailplanes in 1950. In the early 1960s S Ramamritham designed a two-seat training sailplane, the RG-1 Rohini, the first of four prototypes flying on 10 May 1961.[2] The Rohini is a monoplane of wooden construction, with a braced high wing and a low mounted tail positioned forward of the fin. Its crew of two sit side by side in an open cockpit, while the aircraft's undercarriage consists of a single unsprung wheel under the fuselage, with skids under the nose and tail.[3][4]

A total of 17 Rohinis were built by Veegal Engines and Engineering of Calcutta, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited building a further 86 RG-1s by 1971.[4]

Specifications (RG-1 Rohini)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1971-72[4] The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II[5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 7.18 m (23 ft 7 in)
  • Wingspan: 16.56 m (54 ft 4 in)
  • Height: 2.33 m (7 ft 8 in)
  • Wing area: 20.76 m2 (223.5 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 13.2:1
  • Airfoil: NACA 4418 at root, NACA 4412 (modified) at tip
  • Empty weight: 274 kg (604 lb)
  • Gross weight: 494 kg (1,089 lb)

Performance

  • Stall speed: 48 km/h (30 mph, 26 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 184 km/h (114 mph, 99 kn)
  • Aerotow speed: 112 km/h (69.6 mph; 60.5 kn)
  • Winch launch speed: 96 km/h (59.7 mph; 51.8 kn)
  • g limits: +5 -2.5
  • Maximum glide ratio: 21:1 at 77 km/h (47.8 mph; 41.6 kn)
  • Rate of sink: 0.85 m/s (167 ft/min) at 61 km/h (37.9 mph; 32.9 kn)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Slingsby T.21 Related lists List of gliders

Notes
  1. https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/rohini
  2. Taylor, John W. R. (1969). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1969-70. London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 541.
  3. Taylor 1971, pp. 505-506.
  4. Taylor, John W. R. (1971). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1971-72. London: Jane's Yearbooks. pp. 505–506. ISBN 0-354-00094-2.
  5. Shenstone, B.S.; K.G. Wilkinson (1963). The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II (in English, French, and German) (1st ed.). Zurich: Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol a Voile (OSTIV) and Schweizer Aero-Revue. pp. 140–141.

References
  • Shenstone, B.S.; K.G. Wilkinson (1963). The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II (in English, French, and German) (1st ed.). Zurich: Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol a Voile (OSTIV) and Schweizer Aero-Revue. pp. 140–141.
  • Taylor, John W. R. (1969). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1969-70. London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 541.
  • Taylor, John W. R. (1971). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1971-72. London: Jane's Yearbooks. pp. 505–506. ISBN 0-354-00094-2.
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