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DELTA
This is a project of Verhees Engineering itself. The aim is to build a single
seater with a roomy inside and good performance.
After having conducted extended experiments with large model aircraft,
the design boiled down to a tailless delta in which the pilot and engine
would fit in the wing. This created a lot of room without the drag of
a fat fuselage. Because the wing is so thick, it is possible to make the
structure light as well. The structure is made of aluminium and for certification
the Jar-VLA is used with +6/-6 g and a manoeuvring speed of 110 kts and
a dive speed of 170 kts.
The landing gear is retractable, control by two "elevons" and
rudder.
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| Meanwhile the aircraft is finished and flies. The certificate of airworthynes
is provided.
The performance is for the greater part as calculated with a cruisingspeed
of 140 kts end a vertical speed of 1300 fpm.
The aircraft has good stability and can be controlled well. Stall is very
gentle, in fact it does not happen, the aircraft simply glides down with
a high angle of attack.
The landinggear is of an unusual type with a non-pivoting tailwheel and
one steerable mainwheel, also retractable.
The mainwheel is steerable with a separate set of pedals, only to be used
while taxiing, to be compared with differential braking with a free-pivoting
nosewheel.
In takeoff direction is kept by rolling the aircraft with the ailerons,
like riding a bike handsfree.
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