Offpiste Discovery

The Offpiste Discovery is a series of British high-wing, single or two-place, hang gliders that were designed by Bill Pain and produced by Colin Lark's company Offpiste Aviation Limited (Off The Beaten Track) of Dursley, Gloucestershire. Now out of production, when it was available the series of aircraft were supplied complete and ready-to-fly.[1][2]

Discovery
Role Hang glider
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Offpiste Aviation Limited
Designer Bill Pain
Status Production completed
Produced mid-2000s
Unit cost
£2,800 (Discovery 160, 2004)

Design and development

The Discovery series was designed as a Super Floater glider, for fun, local flying and an emphasis on lightness of weight, ease of rigging and simple handling requirements. It is made from aluminum tubing, with the single-surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. All models were British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association certified.[1]

The series have been frequently used in conjunction with a powered harness, as powered hang gliders.[1]

By the mid-2000s the series had become the best-selling hang gliders in the UK.[3]

Variants
Discovery 160
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 9.14 m (30.0 ft) span wing is cable braced from a single kingpost. The nose angle is 125°, wing area is 14.8 m2 (159 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 5.6:1. The pilot hook-in weight range is 55 to 89 kg (121 to 196 lb).[1]
Discovery 195
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 10.36 m (34.0 ft) span wing is cable braced from a single kingpost. The nose angle is 125°, wing area is 18.1 m2 (195 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 5.6:1. The pilot hook-in weight range is 66 to 102 kg (146 to 225 lb).[1]
Discovery 195S
Reinforced 195 model for much heavier pilots. Its 10.36 m (34.0 ft) span wing is cable braced from a single kingpost. The nose angle is 125°, wing area is 18.1 m2 (195 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 5.6:1. The pilot hook-in weight range is 85 to 135 kg (187 to 298 lb).[1]
Discovery Bi 210
Model for dual use. Its 10.7 m (35.1 ft) span wing is cable braced from a single kingpost. The nose angle is 125°, wing area is 19.6 m2 (211 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 5.6:1. The pilot hook-in weight range is 114 to 178 kg (251 to 392 lb).[1]

Specifications (Discovery 160)

Data from Bertrand[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 9.14 m (30 ft 0 in)
  • Wing area: 14.8 m2 (159 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 5.6:1
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References
  1. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 47. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. "Skyfloating, Colin Lark and the Discovery". skyfloating.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2005. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  3. "About Offpiste Aviation Ltd". skyfloating.com. Archived from the original on 12 February 2002. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
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