Schreder HP-17

American glider

HP-17
The HP-17
Role Glider
Type of aircraft
National origin United States
Designer Richard Schreder
Status Sole example no longer on the US registry
Primary user Richard Schreder
Number built one

The Schreder HP-17 was an American mid-wing, V tailed, single seat, experimental glider designed by Richard Schreder to test a new airfoil section.[1]

Design and development

The HP-17 was designed to test a new airfoil section, the Wortmann FX 72 MS-150A. This airfoil is a high-lift, low drag section that Scheder thought would be a good sailplane design.[1]

The HP-17 is all-metal in construction, except for its foam wing ribs. The wing features water ballast carried inside the wing spar. The wing also has full-span flaps and spoilerons in place of ailerons.[1]

Operational history

The HP-17 was given its baptism of fire in the 1973 US Nationals when Schreder flew it in the FAI 15 Metre Class. The aircraft placed 38th and thus was not deemed a success. After the competition it was not used again and Schreder tuned his attention to the much more successful HP-18 instead.[1]

The HP-17 was retained by Schreder for many years, but in April 2011 it was no longer registered, not in the National Soaring Museum and its current whereabouts are unknown.[1][2][3]

Specifications (HP-17)

Data from Soaring[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 49 ft 3 in (15 m)
  • Wing area: 113 sq ft (10.5 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 21.4
  • Airfoil: Wortmann FX 72 MS-150A
  • Empty weight: 500 lb (227 kg) including 200 lbs (90 kg) of water ballast
  • Gross weight: 940 lb (426 kg)

Performance

  • Maximum glide ratio: 40:1
  • Rate of sink: 102 ft/min (0.52 m/s) at 40 mph (64 km/h)
  • Wing loading: 8.3 lb/sq ft (41 kg/m2) with full water ballast

See also

  • List of gliders

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Said, Bob: 1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, page 23. Soaring Society of America, November 1983. USPS 499-920
  2. ^ Federal Aviation Administration (April 2011). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  3. ^ National Soaring Museum (2011). "Sailplanes in Our Collection". Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2011.