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| Archaeopteryx
 Deutsch
A prototype of the newly developed super-lightweight
glider Archaeopteryx is successfully in operation and its design
is a symbiosis between common hang-gliders and conventional sailplanes.
An excellent flight performance was proven during the testing phase.
The foot launched glider does not depend upon airfields and is
capable of soaring in weakest updrafts, which hardly could be used
up to now. The Archaeopteryx provides a remarkable performance
for foot launched glider flights, allowing a new, marvellous and
unconventional means of gliding / hang-gliding.
Project goal
The project is focused on the development of a truly foot launchable
super-lightweight sailplane which actually allows to be operated
as a hang-glider. Because of the foot launching capability
the aeroplane is classified as a hang-glider (class 2) with
its simplified
regulations compared to classic sailplanes.
This very demanding
project shall illustrate our capabilities in research and development
in the field of mechanical design and
enginering. It has increased substantially our know how on composites.
Milestones
In 1998 the research project was initiated leading to the first
flight in September 2001. Since then many successful test flights
have been performed with the plane either hill launched by foot
or bungee or towed from flats by car, winch or aeroplane. During
that period of time the flight behaviour, the operational use
of the prototype at hang-gliding sites and the general flightworthiness
has been tested and examined. As a result an entire new-styled
aeroplane was established, fulfilling all requirements of the
specification
and providing to its pilots new possibilities in the field of
super-lightweight gliding. The prototype has been worked out
to its final stage of
development.
Outlook
The development of the prototype has been successfully brought
to an end. The development of the marketable serial version has been started. More information 
Contact
Section of Mechanical Design and Engineering, research and development: Robert
Kaeser
Archaeopteryx development: Roger
Ruppert
last update: 08/08/05
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Microlight sailplane / hang-glider
Foot launch
– lightweight and slow glider with high stability
Aerodynamic control surfaces
– conventional cockpit controls
Effective climb –
slow and accurate in thermals, capable of 'microlift' soaring
High performance –
a superb glide, wide speed range
Landing on hang-gliding sites
– slow and short with efficient airbrake, remaining seated
Alternative launch options
– bungee, car-towing, winch-towing, aero-towing by microlights
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Archaeopteryx Entwicklungsbericht
1998-2003 (pdf;
in German) |
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Archaeopteryx Hand-out (pdf;
in German) |
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Archaeopteryx in ZHWinfo 10 (pdf;
in German) |
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| In specialized
magazines: |
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Archaeopteryx, in Aerokurier,
June 2004 (pdf;
in German) |
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Archaeopteryx, in Segelfliegen,
May 2004 (pdf;
in German) |
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Archaeopteryx im Swiss Glider Januar
2002 (pdf;
in German and French) |
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Titelbild Swiss Glider
Januar 2002 (Bild) |
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| In Newspapers: |
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Archaeopteryx in Der Landbote 20.9.01
(nicht Online abrufbar, in German) |
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Archaeopteryx in Der Landbote 6.9.01
(nicht Online abrufbar, in German) |
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Archaeopteryx im Tages Anzeiger
20.9.01 (in German, nicht online abrufbar) |
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