Eta Aircraft eta

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The eta is a German-Italian Open Class two-seater flapped self-launching glider manufactured by ETA Aircraft. It is the highest performing glider [http://www.daec.de/se/downfiles/2008/DMSt-WO2008.pdf Handicap list 2008] of the Deutscher Aero Club - accessed 2008-08-07] .

On July 31, 2000 at 13:19 (in Cochstedt, Germany) the eta made its first flight making 2 meters of height, the second flight was the first aerotow take off flight to reach 1500 metres was at 13:58. The third flight was self powered and had no problems. The official presentation was on August 1.

Three etas have been manufactured to date. The second prototype was extensively damaged in 2003 during the spin tests required for the type certification. Both pilots parachuted to safety. The prototype was repaired and the tests completed successfully.

The glider will be produced by hand in a small series, at a rate of about three per year.

Eta is an example of a current trend in glider development in which private pilots initiate the development of new open class gliders. Currently, the private development of the Concordia sailplane promises a further elevation of lift-drag (l/D) ratio of several points.

Eta participated in a World Championship for the first time in 2003 at Leszno. The pilot Janusz Centka was able to win five days and achieved an overall second place. Good placings have also been achieved by eta in later competitions. The glider is however hampered by the current weight limitation in the Open Class, which does not allow it to fly with a sufficiently high wingloading in strong weather, to the advantage of its opponents.

pecifications (variant)

aerospecs
ref=
met or eng?= met

crew=Two
capacity=
length m=9.84
length ft=32
length in=3
span m=30.90
span ft=101
span in=5
swept m=
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width m=
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height m=
height ft=
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wing area sqm=18.6
wing area sqft=200
swept area sqm=
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volume m3=
volume ft3=
aspect ratio= 51.3
empty weight kg=600
empty weight lb=1,320
gross weight kg=850
gross weight lb=1,870
lift kg=
lift lb=

eng1 number=1
eng1 type=Solo 2625
eng1 kw= 47
eng1 hp= 63
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max speed kmh=280
max speed mph=175
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ceiling ft=
glide ratio= 72
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References

* [http://www.eta-aircraft.de/ ETA-Aircraft webpage]