Sisu 1A

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Sisu 1A
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Sisu 1A on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Role Competition sailplane
National origin United States
Manufacturer Astro Corporation, Arlington Aircraft Company
Designer Leonard Niemi
First flight 20 December 1958
Number built 11[1]

The Sisu 1A is a competition sailplane built in the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Originally designed by Leonard Niemi as a homebuilt sailplane, its first flight in 1958 showed such promise that Niemi decided instead to manufacture it in series production. Niemi formed the Arlington Aircraft Company for this purpose. The Sisu 1A quickly proved itself as the most competitive American sailplane ever developed, winning the 1962, 1965, and 1967 U.S. National Soaring Championships. On July 31, 1964, a Sisu 1a piloted by Alvin H. Parker became the first sailplane ever to fly farther than 1000 km.[2]

File:Sisu 1A Smithsonian Invitation 1968.pdf
Electronic copy of the original invitation (front) to attend the dedication of the Sisu 1A to the Smithsonian in 1968.
File:Sisu 1A Smithsonian Invitation 1968 back.pdf
Electronic copy of the original invitation (back) to attend the dedication of the Sisu 1A to the Smithsonian in 1968.

Aircraft on display

Specifications (Sisu 1)

File:Sisu1A3view wiki.GIF
Sisu 1A three view drawing
File:Bill Ivan's Sisu 1A.jpg
Bill Ivan prepares his Sisu 1A for competition at the 30th National Soaring Championships at Harris Hill, NY in July, 1963.

Data from The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 20 ft 10 in (6.35 m)
  • Wingspan: 50 ft 0 in (15.25 m)
  • Height: 3 ft 5 in (1.04 m) at cockpit
  • Wing area: 108.5 sq ft (10.08 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 23.1
  • Airfoil: NACA 653 418 a=0.5
  • Empty weight: 493 lb (223.5 kg)
  • Gross weight: 712 lb (323 kg)

Performance

  • Stall speed: 41 mph; 36 kn (66.2 km/h)
  • Never exceed speed: 162 mph; 140 kn (260 km/h)
  • Rough air speed max: 135.5 mph (218.1 km/h; 117.7 kn)
  • Aerotow speed: 118 mph (189.9 km/h; 102.5 kn)
  • Winch launch speed: 80 mph (128.7 km/h; 69.5 kn)
  • G limits: +6 -4 at 135.5 mph (218.1 km/h; 117.7 kn)
  • Maximum glide ratio: 41.4 at 62 mph (99.8 km/h; 53.9 kn)
  • Rate of sink: 123.0 ft/min (0.625 m/s) at 55 mph (88.5 km/h; 47.8 kn)
  • Wing loading: 6.56 lb/sq ft (32.05 kg/m2)

References

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