Glasflügel 401

The Glasflügel 401 "Kestrel" is a glider that was developed in 1968 for the open class. It has a wingspan of 17 metres. It is named after the kestrel bird.

401 Kestrel
Glasflügel 401 Kestrel
Role Open class sailplane
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Glasflügel
Designer Eugen Hänle
First flight 9 August 1968
Number built 129

History

Between 1968 and 1975 Glasflügel built 129 Kestrels.

The British company Slingsby built the Kestrel under license as the T59 and T59B. The T59B has a wingspan of 19 metres and was developed for the 1970 World Gliding Championships.[1]

On 18 May 2005, Gordon Boettger flew 2061 km in his Kestrel in lee waves along the Sierra Nevada in the USA.[2]

Specifications

General characteristics

  • Crew: One pilot
  • Length: 6.72 m (22 ft 1 in)
  • Wingspan: 17.00 m (55 ft 9 in)
  • Wing area: 11.6 m2 (125 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 25
  • Empty weight: 260 kg (570 lb)
  • Gross weight: 400 kg (880 lb)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 250 km/h (160 mph, 140 kn)
  • Maximum glide ratio: 43:1

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Notes
  1. Ellison, Norman (1971), British Gliders and Sailplanes, p.230. A & C Black, Limited, London. ISBN 0-7136-1189-8
  2. FAI 2000 km Flight Register Archived 2011-10-20 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2012-01-02

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Glasflügel 401 Kestrel.
  • Flight Manual
  • Die Entwicklung der Kunststoffsegelflugzeuge, Dietmar Geistmann, Motorbuchverlag, ISBN 3-87943-483-2
  • Sailplane Directory
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