M.Hardy. Gliders & Sailplanes of the world

AER-Pegaso M-100

  This Italian single-seater sailplane was designed by Alberto and Piero Morelli and in its M-100 form first flew in 1957, winning an Italian Aero Club competition for the best design of a single-seat sailplane. The M-100 had ДальшеMore>>> a 14m (45ft 11in) wing span and this version served Italian clubs for a time as their standard trainer. It was followed by the M-100S which featured a 15m (49ft 2 1/2 in) span wing to meet Standard class requirements, and which first flew in prototype form in January 1960. Production of the M-100S was undertaken in Italy by Aeromere, which built 41, by Avionautica Rio S. p. A., which started production in June 1963, and by the French licensees CARMAM (Cooperative d'Approvisionnement et de Reparation de Material Aeronautique de Moulins), who built the type as the M-100S Mesange (Tomtit), beginning deliveries in June 1963. Several improved features were introduced by CARMAM from aircraft No 23 onward, including light alloy air brakes instead of plastic ones, a new metal-framed one-piece canopy of Italian manufacture hinged sideways and a wooden seat for the pilot. Altogether about 180 of the M-100S were produced both in Italy and by CARMAM at Moulins-Avernes. The M-100S is fully aerobatic (except for inverted flight) and is of conventional all-wood construction; the single wing span is of beech and the wing is covered with plywood and fabric, with a leading edge torsion box. The slotted ailerons are fabric-covered and the air brakes are of an unusual design consisting of three pairs of light alloy rotating plates above and below each wing. Rudder and elevators are fabric covered, while the landing gear consists of a rubber-sprung nose-skid and a non-retractable mono-wheel with a disc brake; there is also a tailskid. Oxygen and radio equipment are stowed behind the pilot's seat.


Data: M-100S
Span: 49ft 2 1/2 in
Length: 21 ft 6 in
Height: 5 ft 3 in
Wing area: 141 sq ft
Aspect ratio: 17.1
Empty weight: 441 Ib
Max take-off weight: 694 lb
Max speed: 137 mph (in smooth air)
Min sinking speed: 2.13 ft/sec at 41.6 mph
Best glide ratio: 32:1 at 50 mph



CARMAM M-200 Foehn

  Designed by Alberto and Piero Morelli, the M-200 is a two-seater high performance version of their Standard Class M-100S which was built under licence both in Italy and by CARMAM at Moulins-Avernes as the M-100S Mesange (Tomtit). The prototype M-200 was built under contract for the Aero Club of Italy by the CVT (Centra di Volo a Vela del Politecnico di Torino) at Turin, and made its first flight in May 1964. Production was undertaken under an exclusive licence by CARMAM, who built it as the M-200 Foehn, completing one more prototype and five pre-production aircraft before starting the definitive production batch. Main difference between the M-200 and the M-100S is the former's widened fuselage to accommodate two staggered side-by-side seats, the one-piece canopy opening sideways to port; this seating arrangement obviates the need for ballast when the aircraft is flown solo, and gives good visibility to both pilots. The M-200 is designed to be easy to fly for first solos and, like the M-100S, is fully aerobatic; it is also suitable for flying in cloud. Wing span of the M-200 has been increased from the 15m of the M-100S to 18.15m (59ft 6 1/2 in) and it is slightly longer; the wing structure is very similar to that of the M-100S, with a leading edge torsion box and air brakes consisting of four instead of three pairs of light alloy rotating plates above and below each wing. The fuselage is of plywood construction with frames and stringers and the landing gear consists of a non-retractable monowheel with a drum brake and a rubber-sprung nose-skid; there is also a tailskid.


Data: M-200
Span: 59 ft 6 1/2 in
Length: 24 ft 1 1/4 in
Height: 6 ft 5 1/4 in
Wing area: 188.4 sqft
Aspect ratio: 19.0
Empty weight: 761 Ib
Max weight: 1,257 lb
Max speed: 140 mph (in smooth air)
Min sinking speed: 2.3 ft/sec
Best glide ratio: 32:1 at 61 mph



CVT M-300

  Designed by Alberto Morelli, the M-300 is a high performance single-seater intended not only for club use but for competition and record flying, and to this end particular attention has been paid to structural design and techniques both to reduce the time taken for construction and to ensure the necessary accuracy and quality of surface finish. Only two prototypes of the M-300 were in the end built and flown at the CVT (Centro di Volo a Vela del Politecnico di Torino) at Turin, the first making its maiden flight in April 1968. The shoulder wings are of composite construction, the tapered wing spar being a machined aluminium-zinc alloy I-section beam with lightening holes in the web, and the ribs are milled out of a wooden sandwich, the wing skin being of thick pre-formed plywood panels. The fuselage is a semi-monocoque wooden structure with four main frames and nine stringers, and with a glassfibre nose cone; wing/fuselage attachment is by means of Redux-bonded dural fittings. The rudder is double-slotted and the all-moving tailplane on top of the fin is a narrow chord one-piece aluminium alloy structure. A retractable monowheel is provided.


Data: M-300
Span: 49 ft 2 1/2 in
Length: 20 ft 11 1/2 in
Wing area: 98.6 sq ft
Aspect ratio: 24.7
Empty weight: 419 lb
Max weight: 661 Ib
Max speed: 155 mph
Min sinking speed: 2 ft/sec at 49 mph
Best glide ratio: 38:1 at 55 mph