Blaicher B-38

The Blaicher B-38 was a Polish, single seat sailplane completed in 1938. Notable for its use of long span Fowler flaps, its development was ended by the German invasion of Poland in September 1939.

Blaicher B-38
Role High performance, single seat, experimental sailplane
National origin Poland
Manufacturer ZASPL
Designer Michal Blaicher
First flight Late 1938 or early 1939
Number built 1

Design and development

Following the WOS-37, his development of the Czerwiński CW 5 bis, Michal Blaicher turned to a new design incorporating Fowler flaps. Construction began in the ZASPL workshops but moved when ZASPL became LWL, controlled by PWS, delaying its completion.[1] Its first flight was made either late in 1938[1] or in the spring of 1939 at Lwów-Skiłnów,[2] flown by Zbigniew Źabski. After some modifications it was ready for official testing in August 1939 but was destroyed in the German invasion the following month.[1][2]

The all-wood B-38 had a cantilever gull wing built around two spars and covered with stress-relieving plywood. The mass balanced ailerons were assisted by Flettner tab and, inboard of them, Fowler flaps filled the remaining 2/3 of the span.[1]

The glider's fuselage was a ply-covered, semi-monocoque structure of oval cross-section. Its single seat cockpit, which included blind flying instrumentation, was enclosed and had a long dorsal fairing behind it. At the rear the cantilever tailplane was mounted above the fuselage on the fin; like the ailerons the elevators were tab assisted. Fixed empennage surfaces were ply-covered and the control surfaces fabric-covered.[1][2]

A detachable, two-wheeled trolley was used for take-off and a sprung skid for landings.[1]

Specifications

Data from J, Cynk (1971),[1] except where noted. Performance from samolotypolskie[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Length: 6.3 m (20 ft 8 in)
  • Wingspan: 16.3 m (53 ft 6 in)
  • Height: 1.25 m (4 ft 1 in) [2]
  • Wing area: 13.4 m2 (144 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 20
  • Empty weight: 190 kg (419 lb)
  • Gross weight: 275 kg (606 lb)

Performance

  • Never exceed speed: 200 km/h (120 mph, 110 kn) in dive
  • Maximum glide ratio: best 29 at 80 km/h (50 mph; 43 kn)
  • Rate of sink: 0.7 m/s (140 ft/min) minimum at 70 km/h (43 mph; 38 kn), flaps up. With flaps down, 0.4 m/s (79 ft/min) at 40 km/h (25 mph; 22 kn).[1]
  • Minimum speed:35 km/h (22 mph; 19 kn)
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References
  1. Cynk, Jerzy (1971). Polish Aircraft 1893-1939. London: Putnam Publishing. p. 703-4. ISBN 0 370 00085 4.
  2. "B-38,1939". Retrieved 28 October 2018.
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