GP Sailplanes in Poland recently partnered with MGM Compro of the Czech Republic to add electric power to its line of small, sleek sailplanes. Concentrating initially on the 13.5 meter racing class (44.29 feet), GP’s craft provide high performance with light weight and compact dimensions. A Long Reach on the Antares Putting a retractable motor and folding propeller into such a tight space required some clever engineering. Think of the tall mast on the Lange Antares or the Arcus two-seater. These are large, heavier machines, so the propeller, mast and motor can be accommodated (tightly) in their fuselage. The video gives a good view of just how close the quarters are on the Antares at about the 3:14 mark. With a 118-square-foot wing area and 59-foot wing span (the 18T model), the average chord of the Antares is two feet. Tucking the Motor into a Tighter Space GP’s aircraft are much smaller, with narrow chord wings, part of their high …
