M.Hardy. Gliders & Sailplanes of the world

Kometa-Standard

  The second postwar Bulgarian sailplane designed by Eng L. Panov and D. Panchovsky, the Kometa-Standard (or Comet Standard) fully aerobatic Standard Class single-seater flew for the first time in prototype form on 5 August ДальшеMore>>> 1960; the type later went into small-scale production for the Bulgarian gliding clubs. The Kometa-Standard is a cantilever mid-wing monoplane of conventional wooden construction with a butterfly-type V-tail with an included angle between the tailplanes of 110°. The wings are single-spar wooden structures with a leading edge plywood torsion box and wing tip 'salmon'-type fairings; the slotted ailerons are fabric-covered and there are spoilers on the wing upper and lower surfaces. The plywood monocoque fuselage has a metal nose-cap and the landing gear consists of a non-retractable wheel with brake and a rubber-mounted skid under the forward fuselage. The tail unit is of wooden construction with plywood and fabric covering, and the pilot is seated under a hinged Perspex canopy.


Span: 49 ft 0 1/2 in
Length: 22 ft 9 1/2 in
Wing area: 136.7 sqft
Aspect ratio: 17.6
Empty weight: 573 lb
Max weight: 750 lb
Max speed: 130 mph (in smooth air)
Max aero-tow speed: 93 mph
Min sinking speed: 2.69 ft/sec at 48.5 mph
Best glide ratio: 28:1 at 51 mph