There are four types of 'glass glider for hire at Deeside Gliding Club. Click on a photo for more information. Click here for the minimum qualifications for hire. NB: data is from published specs: Always check the cockpit placards in case of changes.
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| CATEGORY/GLIDER | SZD-50-3 Puchacz | SZD-51-1 Junior | ASW-19 | Discus |
| Manufacturer | PZL Bielsko (Poland) | PZL Bielsko (Poland) | Schleicher (Germany) | Schempp-Hirth (Germany) |
| Designer | Stanislaw Zientek | Stanislaw Zientek | Gerhard Waibel | Klaus Holighaus |
| Description | Basic-Intermediate & Aerobatic Trainer | Early Solo Single Seat Club Class |
Intermediate Single Seat Standard Class |
Advanced Single Seat Standard Class |
| DGC Registration | FWE, FYL, EVS | HCW | GCA | 39 |
| PERFORMANCE | - | - | - | - |
| Max Lift-to-Drag ratio | 32 at 46 kt | 35 at 43 kt | 38 at ? kt | 43 at 54 kt |
| Vne never exceed speed | 116 kt | 119 kt | 132 kt | 135 kt |
| Va max manouever speed | 81 kt | 84 kt | 97 kt | 108 kt |
| Vs stall speed | 31-39 kt | 32 kt (ave wt) | 37 kt | 36 kt |
| max speed in rough air | 81 kt | 81 kt | 97 kt | 108 kt |
| Vt max aerotow speed | 81 kt | 81 kt | ? | ? |
| Vw max winch speed | 59 kt | 70 kt | ? | ? |
| Airbrake stall speed | 35-41kt | ? | ? | ? |
| Maximum speed to extend airbrakes or with airbrakes extended | 116 kt | 119 kt | ? | ? |
| Best thermal circling speed | 38-49 kt | ? | ? | ? |
| Min Sink Rate | 1.4 kt (138 ft/min, 2.6 feet/sec) at 40 kt | 1.1kt (114 ft/min, 0.58 m/s) at 38kt | 1.2 kt (2 ft/s, 0.62m/s) | 1.1 kt (1.9 ft/s, 0.6 m/s) |
| Acceleration limits | +5.3G and -2.65G | +5.3G, -2.65G | ? | ? |
| Pilot minimum weight (with no ballast) |
155lb | 155lb | ? | ? |
| Pilot minimum weight (with full ballast) |
121 lb | 121 lb (backrest full fwd if < 126lb) | ? | ? |
| Pilot maximum weight (ballast prohibited) |
220 lb | 243 lb (backrest removed if > 238 lb) | ? | ? |
| Ballast weight | Each 15 lb effective 22 lb |
? | ? | ? |
| Pilot minimum height | ? | 5 ft | ? | ? |
| Pilot maximum height | 6 ft 6 in | 6 ft 6 in | ? | ? |
| GENERAL | - | - | - | - |
| Construction | Fibreglass Epoxy Composite | Fibreglass Epoxy Composite / Steel tube | Fibreglass | Composite & steel tube |
| Fuselage Length | 27.5 ft (8.4 m) | 22 ft | 6.8m | 21.6 ft (6.6 m) |
| Maximum Height | 6.7 ft (2 m) | 5.1 ft | 994 lb (450 Kg) | ? |
| Payload | ? | ? | 442 lb (200 Kg) | 654 lb (297 Kg) |
| Empty Weight | 811 lb (368 Kg) | 496 lb | 552 lb (250 Kg) | 507 lb (230 Kg) |
| Maximum Weight | 257 lb (570 Kg) | 838 lb | 408 Kg | 1,157 lb (525 Kg) |
| Water Ballast | No | No | Optional | 397 lb (180 Kg) |
| Factory Warranty | 18 months | ? | ? | ? |
| Design Life | ? | 9000 hours | ? | ? |
| Number Built | 300+ | ? | ~500 | ? |
| Year of Origin | 1976 (model 50-1) | 1980 | 1975 | 1984 |
| AIRFOIL | - | - | - | - |
| Type | Wortmann | Wortmann | Wortmann FX 61-163 FX/ 60-126 |
? |
| Wing Span | ? | 49.2 ft | 49.2 ft (15 m) | 49.2 ft (15 m) |
| Wing Area | 195.5 sqft (18.2 sqm) | 134.7 sq ft | 118 sqft (10.9 sqm) | 113.9 sqft (10.6 sqm) |
| Aspect Ratio | 15.3 | 18 | 20 | 21.3 |
| Wing Loading | 6.43 lb/sqft | 6.2 lb/sqft (max wt) | 41 Kg/sqm (8.5 lb/sqft) | 10.16 lb/sqft (49.6 Kg/sqm) |
| Dihedral | ? | 3 degrees | ? | ? |
| Airbrake Type | Upper & Lower | Upper & Lower | Upper only | Upper only |
| CATEGORY/GLIDER | SZD-50-3 Puchacz | SZD-51-1 Junior | ASW-19 | Discus |
| SZD-50-3
Puchacz |
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| SZD-51-1
Junior |
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