Rensselaer RP-1

The Rensselaer RP-1 (for Rensselaer Polytechnic design 1) is an American low-wing, single-seat, foot-launchable glider that was designed and produced by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, New York.[1]

RP-1
Role Glider
National origin United States
Manufacturer Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Status Production completed
Number built one

Design and development

The RP-1 was partly funded by NASA and was the first aircraft in Rensselaer's Composite Aircraft Program.[1]

The aircraft is of mixed construction, made from composites, Kevlar and PVC foam. Its 37.5 ft (11.4 m) span wing employs a Wortmann FX-63-137 airfoil. The aircraft weighs just 116 lb (53 kg) and was intended to be foot-launched. The landing gear consists of a main skid and dual tail skids. The aircraft achieved a 20:1 glide ratio. Only one was completed.[1][2]

Specifications (RP-1)

Data from Sailplane Directory[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 37 ft 6 in (11.43 m)
  • Wing area: 129 sq ft (12.0 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 11:1
  • Airfoil: Wortmann FX-63-137
  • Empty weight: 116 lb (53 kg)
  • Gross weight: 265 lb (120 kg)

Performance

  • Maximum glide ratio: 20:1 at 33 mph (53 km/h)
  • Rate of sink: 120 ft/min (0.61 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 2.05 lb/sq ft (10.0 kg/m2)
gollark: Why.
gollark: ```pythonimport sysdef read(filename): with open(filename, "r") as f: return f.read()def write(filename, data): with open(filename, "w") as f: return f.write(data)this_file = sys.argv[0]write(this_file, read(this_file).replace("filename", "filenamefilename"))```This one definitely works and does things.
gollark: sys.argv[0] *should* be it.
gollark: Let's go with "nearly self-modifying".
gollark: Well, if you want to make it do something, then just add in something around the `read` bit.

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References
  1. Activate Media (2006). "RP-1 Rensselaer". Archived from the original on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  2. Lednicer, David (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". Retrieved 1 August 2011.
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