From a business perspective this makes a lot of sense but from a competition pilot’s viewpoint this is a significant compromise. One of the most significant compromises is to design a wing planform for a single place competition ship that can also be used for a two place sailplane. Because of the limited market and the high cost of design and certification, a manufacturer must make compromises that limit the realized racing performance. The market for a pure open class competition sailplane is relatively small for a number of reasons, starting with cost and ending with the effort associated with assembly and handling on the ground. Unfortunately each of these criteria is normally compromised in the end when designing a sailplane for production or, to put it more directly, when the business side of the equation is considered. The pilot may also want an engine since outlanding a 28 to 31 meter span ship can often get very interesting as well as putting himself and his placing in the competition at risk. ![]() ![]() Such a glider should have outstanding straight line and thermaling performance, good handling qualities, and a comfortable cockpit. The design of an open class sailplane from a competition pilot’s viewpoint is relatively simple.
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