The ICA IS-29 was a sailplane built in Romania in the 1970s. The prefix IS comes from Iosif Șilimon, the Romanian IAR (Industria Aeronautică Română) aeronautical engineer who designed it.

IS-29, IS-31, and IS-33
IS-29D2
General information
TypeClub-class Sailplane
National originRomania
ManufacturerICA
Designer
Number built>200
History
First flightApril 1970

Design and development

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The 15-metre (49ft 3in) single-seat variant of the IS-28 series, the IS-29D2 single-seater has retractable gear, camber-changing flaps and Hütter-type airbrakes on the upper wing surface only. The T-tail has a fixed stabilizer and elevator. The –29D model is of all-metal construction while the earlier –29B has wooden wings. Developments include 19 metre (62 ft) -29E2 and 20 metre (66 ft) -29E3 versions and a flapless, fixed gear 16.5-metre (54 feet) ‘club’ model -29G.

The IS-29 was also produced in a motorglider version, designated the IS-29EM. This shared the low-set wings and three-point undercarriage of the IS-28M2, and the new wings of the IS-28MA.

Variants

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  • IS-29
    • IS-29B - wooden wings of 15-metre span
    • IS-29D
      • IS-29D2
        • IS-29D2 Club - Club-class version of IS-29D2
    • IS-29E - open class version with ballast tanks
      • IS-29E2 - version with 19-metre wings
      • IS-29E3 - version with 20-metre wings
    • IS-29EM - motorglider version
    • IS-29G - Club-class version with 16.5-metre wings
  • IS-31 - IS-29 with 20-metre wings and linked flaps and ailerons
  • IS-33 - IS-29 with tanks for 150 kg (300 lb) of water ballast


Specifications (IS-29D2)

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Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89[1][2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Length: 7.3 m (23 ft 11 in)
  • Wingspan: 15 m (49 ft 3 in)
  • Height: 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
  • Wing area: 10.4 m2 (112 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 21.6
  • Airfoil: root:Wortmann FX 61-163, tip:Wortmann FX 60-126/1
  • Empty weight: 240 kg (529 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 360 kg (794 lb)

Performance

  • Stall speed: 65 km/h (40 mph, 35 kn) flaps down
  • Never exceed speed: 225 km/h (140 mph, 121 kn) in smooth air
  • Max rough air speed: 172 km/h (107 mph)
  • Max aero-tow speed: 140 km/h (87 mph)
  • Max winch-launch speed: 130 km/h (81 mph)
  • g limits: +5.2 -2.65
  • Maximum glide ratio: 37
  • Best glide speed: 93 km/h (58 mph)
  • Rate of sink: 0.65 m/s (128 ft/min)
  • Minimum sink speed: 78 km/h (48 mph)
  • Wing loading: 34.62 kg/m2 (7.09 lb/sq ft)

See also

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Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Notes

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Citations

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  1. ^ John W.R. Taylor, ed. (1988). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89. London: Jane's Information Group. p. 639. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.
  2. ^ "ICA IS-29D". Retrieved 17 January 2014.

Bibliography

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  • Soaring Society of America
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 528.
  • Hardy, Michael (1982). Gliders and Sailplanes of the World. Shepperton: Ian Allan. pp. 54–55.
  • Coates, Andrew (1978). Jane's World Sailplanes and Motor Gliders. London: MacDonald and Jane's. p. 124.
  • Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. p. 342.
  • Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977-78. London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 608.