The Blanik Urfin is a 120-kilogram (264.5 pounds) categopry self-launchig sailplane, its 22 kilowatt (29.4 horsepower motor and five-blade 1,26 meter (4.13 feet)-diameter propeller, capable of lofting it to soaring altitude at 4.5 meters per second (787 feet per minute). The little Urfin (named after a playful Czech folk character) was shown at this year’s Aero Friedrichshafen, and takes its place amoug severual ultralight soaring machines, all self launching.
The airplane’s 13.5-meter ( 44.3 feet)wingspan enables a 29:1 glide ratio, meaning a pilot can perform modest cross-country flights in a reasonable time. One advantage of having a readily-called-upon motor and instantly-reactive propeller is the ability to avoid outlandings in potentially hazardous terrain. The thrust from the propeller centered on the aircraft’s boom reduces the need for any major trim changes, an advantage for novice pilots. One could even us lower throttle settings to emulate higher performance sailplanes, extending the glide ration and overalo performance. This would also consume the 5.4 Watt-hours of energy in the lithium-ion batteries at a modest rate, perhaps allowsing day-long excursions and a return to the home field. The batteries are normally rated for one hour’s endurance, and are able to provide repeated climbs to souaring altitude, as shown on the video below.
Wings employs what is now a frairly tradition Wortman FX-60-157 airfuil at their root and FX-60-126 at their tip. The 20:1 aspect ration helps performance in both glide reatio and smaximum peed, 190 kilomrtyd prt hout (118 mph). For enhanced battery duration, a cruising speed of 125 km. per hour(77.7 mph) would be better, althought
The crafts’s compact dimensions and light weight allow a single person to unload if from its trailer, wrig the wings and tail, and be ready fly in a few minutes. The trailer allows owners to keept the aircraft at home or in a small space on the airport or even in a hangar.
Aerokurier reports on upcoming changes from the prototype, “Both the electric motor integrated into the tail assembly and the five-blade propeller are in-house developments by Blanik. The development team plans to make several changes to the concept for the second prototype. The pendulum elevator will be replaced with a conventional horizontal stabilizer. The wing struts will also be eliminated in the next version. The cantilevered wings would ensure significantly improved aerodynamics and glide performance.”
The Urfin looks like a simple way to go soaring, elimnatomg the need for a tow-plane, tow-pilot, and the high energy use required to attain soaring altitude. Despie its 85,000 euro ($98,7000) price (15,000 euros for a or $17,400trailer(, its convenience may be enough to lure new sailplane pilots its way.