M.Hardy. Gliders & Sailplanes of the world

VT-16 Orlik

  Rather surprisingly, in view of the great commercial success of the L-13 Blanik, Czechoslovakia has produced very few other sailplane designs in the last two decades. One of these was the VT-16 Orlik high performance single-seater ДальшеMore>>> designed by Ing Jiri Matejcek, the prototype of which made its first flight in August 1959 with Standard Class wings of 15m span. Subsequent variants appeared with 16m and 18m span wings, and the type went into small-scale series production at the Orlican National Works at Chocen as the VT-16 Orlik with 16m (52ft 6in) span wings. Orliks equipped the Czech gliding clubs and set up several national records in 1962. Of wooden construction, the Orlik has single-spar cantilever high-set wings covered with plywood and with a Umakol high-smoothness surface. The wing's interior is filled with polystyrene foam and only a few widely-spaced ribs are featured; there are air brakes above and below the wing. The fuselage is a plywood semi-monocoque structure and the pilot sits under a detachable one-piece canopy, with oxygen and radio equipment as optional. The landing gear consists of a non-retractable monowheel and a tailskid. The wooden fin and rudder are both fabric-covered and the all-moving tailplane has a leading edge structurally similar to the wing, with fabric covering aft of the spar, and an anti-servo tab fitted.


Span: 52 ft 6 in
Length: 24 ft 3 in
Height: 4 ft 7 in
Wing area: 137.8 sqft
Aspect ratio: 20.0
Empty weight: 485 lb
Max weight: 705 lb
Max speed: 124 mph (in smooth air)
Min sinking speed: 1.87 ft/sec at 40 mph
Best glide ratio: 32.6:1 at 47 mph