M.Hardy. Gliders & Sailplanes of the world

Nippi NP-100A Albatross

  This Japanese side-by-side two-seater motor glider, designed and built by the Nihon Hikoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Japan Aircraft Manufacturing Co Ltd), is unusual in being powered by a motorcycle engine 'buried' in the ДальшеMore>>> centre of the fuselage aft of the main landing gear and driving a ducted fan. Nippi began the design of the Albatross late in 1973 and the prototype NP-100 made its first flight on 25 December 1975; several modifications were made as a result of the first flight test programme, and a second such programme was to take place during January-March 1978 so as to finalise details of the production version. The prototype's powerplant is a modified 60hp Kawasaki H2 three-cylinder two-stroke air-cooled in-line motorcycle engine of 748cc driving a four-bladed wooden ducted fan of 23.5in diameter, the fan duct being under the tail boom. There are triple 'Venetian blind'-type air intake doors on each side of the fuselage, which are interconnected with the engine starting circuit so as to prevent the engine running when the doors are closed. There is a single fuel tank in the fuselage of 8.8 Imp gallons capacity, and it is expected that production aircraft will have the 68hp Nippi 'flat four' engine. Planned production is now awaiting the final choice of a type-certificated powerplant. Of all-metal construction, the Albatross has cantilever shoulder wings with a single spar and two-section metal-skinned flaps on each side that move upwards or downwards; the inner ones can be lowered to 80° for use as air brakes, and there are no spoilers. The fuselage is a semi-monocoque structure, with the forward-retracting twin-wheel main landing gear operated mechanically with spring assistance, and positioned just ahead of the 'Venetian blind' air intake doors. There is also a steerable fixed tailwheel linked to the rudder movement. The two pilots are provided with dual controls and sit under a rearward-hinged flush-fitting framed cockpit canopy. The unswept tail unit has conventional elevators and rudder.


Data: Prototype
Span: 59 ft 0 3.4 in
Length: 26 ft 3 in
Height: 6 ft 7 1/2 in
Wing area: 193.75 sqft
Aspect ratio: 18.0
Empty weight: 926 lb
Max weight: 1,322 lb
Max level speed at sea level: 99 mph
Max cruising speed: 74 mph
Min sinking speed: 2.62 ft/sec at 51.5 mph
Best glide ratio: 30:1 at 56 mph
Take-off run: 1,200 ft
Range with max fuel: 124 miles