[brianscharp]

You see a cord attached to the top of the kingpost that leads to a drag chute, fully open.

Had the same idea in the early 80s when I started experimenting with drag chutes. I didn't have the nerve to start with an attachment directly to the top of the kingpost. I tried one attached to a pulley on a line from the top of the kingpost to the keel. The chute I was using was too small and the bridle too long. I tried it a few times at Dilllon Beach with no discernible effect and I had no way to release it, so I ditched it. I increased the size a couple of times and started attaching it to the harness. It would be fun to try again.

[JoeF]

http://claudel.dopp.free.fr/Les_planeurs/Descriptions_planeurs/Platz_Zeilvliegtuig/Platz_Zeilvliegtuig.htm
Platz

Hanggliding/Zeilvliegen part 1

[JoeF]

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

Platz Glider.JPG (22.23 KiB) Viewed 410 times