[SamKellner]

The Platz glider has always fascinated me.

Me too, Steve

Isn't that the one with the arched keel?

And I really like the old picture of him on his bicycle with the glider folded and on one shoulder.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platz_glider

[Bob Kuczewski]

That does look like a pretty cool little glider.

Platz_glider_folded.jpg (56.48 KiB) Viewed 4658 times

Platz_glider_flying.jpg (59.4 KiB) Viewed 4658 times

Platz_glider_schematic.jpg (96.92 KiB) Viewed 4658 times

I wonder how hard it would be to build that for some fun at Dockweiler?

[SamKellner]

Thanks Bob,


That's it. Something about that picture of him headed to the hill/tow paddock yields a kindred feeling.

[Frank Colver]

I'm curious about those lines that can be seen coming off the keel and wing tip. What are those doing? Someone appears to be holding one from the keel and another one being held from the nose. The ends of the rear lines don't show. It definitely looks to me like he is kiting and not free flying. With so many lines connected, stability should not be a problem.

From Bluff Utah, Frank C

[Bob Kuczewski]

I'm wondering if it may have needed those lines for roll stability. It looks like all control is done by directly moving the forward keel. I can imagine that would be relatively easy for pitch, but very difficult for roll.

Sam, you're right. There's something about riding a bicycle with a wing on your shoulder that's very appealing!!

[ARP]

Bob & Frank,

There is no film of a manned flight of this glider ( at least I have not found it if there is) but there is film of its assembly and unmanned launch off of the sand dunes. The lines were probably used to kite up the glider, initially, and then to tow into the lift band. After a few ridge soaring flights no further development was made. The jib sails were worked either together for pitch and differentially for roll. The pivot point of the jibs was moved back to about 1/3rd chord to balance and reduced the control effort.

On the HG I developed, using a similar plan form, the jib was fixed before flight and only weight shift was used. This worked ok but it was so stable that it took a bit of effort to get it to respond to control inputs.

The strength of the Platz glider wing spar, which was unbraced, was questioned in British gliding circles. However , as it never went into production that question was never answered. I have looked for more information on this glider but there is little to be found. No doubt Platz was too busy working for Fokker to spend any more time on it.

With a carbon fibre spar and keel the weight could be reduced and strength increased to make this a viable build for a modern version.

Tony

[magentabluesky]

Leonardo da Vinci would have thought he had died and gone to heaven if he had lived in our generation.

I am so grateful to have happened to come along at just the right time to experience the gift of foot launched free flight.

Thank you all,

Michael

[SamKellner]

I am so grateful to have happened to come along at just the right timeThank you all,

Michael

Yes Michael

Thanks Tony for your contributions

[ARP]

Sam & others interested in the Platz glider giving some more detail, pages 17-18 :- http://www.lakesgc.co.uk/mainwebpages/S ... 201953.pdf

Tony

[ARP]

The editorial of the magazine is also worth reading as it predicts the hang gliding revolution with foot launch gliders.