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EEUFMG CB-2 Minuano

  In spite of the difficulties facing gliding in Brazil, in particular the inhospitable and inaccessible nature of so much of the hinterland, and the lack of good roads to make retrievals easier, examples of current Brazilian ДальшеMore>>> sailplane design bear favourable comparison with some of the best European types. Named after a strong, cold wind common to southern Brazil, the Minuano high performance single-seater was designed by Professor Claudio Pinto de Barros, head of the CEA (Centro de Estudos Aeronauticos, or Air Research Centre) of the Engineering School at Minas Gerais Federal University - the Escola de Engenharia da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, or EEUFMG. The Professor had completed his first sailplane design, the CB-1 Gaivota, when he was a student; design work on the Minuano began in 1969, construction started in 1971 and the prototype first flew on 20 December 1975. Four more Minuanos were ordered, the second being due for completion by the end of 1978, and this incorporates several modifications, being designated CB-2/B. The cantilever high wing has a single aluminium alloy main par, and the wing skin is of plywood/glassfibre honeycomb sandwich. The flaps and ailerons, which are interconnected, are similar except for having wooden spars and the flaps can be used as air brakes by deflecting up to 90°. Up to 176lb of water ballast can be carried. The all-wood fuselage is a semi-monocoque, and there is a retractable unsprung monowheel with an internal shoe brake, and a sprung tailskid. The tail surfaces are plywood covered, and stiffened with foam plastics, and the all-moving tailplane has a trim tab in each half.


Data: CB-2/B
Span: 49 ft 2 1/2 in
Length: 22 ft 11 3/4 in
Height: 4 ft 8 1/4 in
Wing area: 109.8 sqft
Aspect ratio: 22.0
Empty weight: 507 lb
Max weight: 882 lb
Max speed: 161 mph (in smooth air)
Max aero-tow speed: 99 mph
Min sinking speed: 1.97 ft/sec at 51.5 mph
Best glide ratio: 39:1 at 59 mph