Civil Aviation Department RG-1 Rohini
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The Civil Aviation Department RG-1 Rohini (Literally means Tropic Bird)[1] is an Indian two-seat training sailplane of the 1960s. A high-winged wooden monoplane, with side-by-side seating;at least 107 were built.
| RG-1 Rohini | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Training sailplane |
| National origin | India |
| Manufacturer | Veegal Engines and Engineering/Hindustan Aeronautics Limited |
| Designer | S Ramamritham |
| Number built | 107 |
| History | |
| First flight | 10 May 1961 |
Development and design
The Technical Centre of the Indian Civil Aviation Department is its research and development arm, and started design and production of sailplanes in 1950. In the early 1960s S Ramamritham designed a two-seat training sailplane, the RG-1 Rohini, the first of four prototypes flying on 10 May 1961.[2] The Rohini is a monoplane of wooden construction, with a braced high wing and a low mounted tail positioned forward of the fin. Its crew of two sit side by side in an open cockpit, while the aircraft's undercarriage consists of a single unsprung wheel under the fuselage, with skids under the nose and tail.[3][4]
A total of 17 Rohinis were built by Veegal Engines and Engineering of Calcutta, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited building a further 86 RG-1s by 1971.[4]
Specifications (RG-1 Rohini)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1971-72[4] The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II[5]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 7.18 m (23 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 16.56 m (54 ft 4 in)
- Height: 2.33 m (7 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 20.76 m2 (223.5 sq ft)
- Aspect ratio: 13.2:1
- Airfoil: NACA 4418 at root, NACA 4412 (modified) at tip
- Empty weight: 274 kg (604 lb)
- Gross weight: 494 kg (1,089 lb)
Performance
- Stall speed: 48 km/h (30 mph, 26 kn)
- Never exceed speed: 184 km/h (114 mph, 99 kn)
- Aerotow speed: 112 km/h (69.6 mph; 60.5 kn)
- Winch launch speed: 96 km/h (59.7 mph; 51.8 kn)
- g limits: +5 -2.5
- Maximum glide ratio: 21:1 at 77 km/h (47.8 mph; 41.6 kn)
- Rate of sink: 0.85 m/s (167 ft/min) at 61 km/h (37.9 mph; 32.9 kn)
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Slingsby T.21 Related lists List of gliders