Scanlan SG-1A

SG-1A
Role	Glider
National origin	United States
Designer	Thomas W. Scanlan
First flight	1970
Introduction	1970
Number built	5 (estimated)

The Scanlan SG-1A is an American, single seat, pod-and-boom, high-wing, strut-braced glider that was designed by Thomas W. Scanlan in 1970 and sold in the form of plans for amateur construction.^[1]^[2]

Design and development

The SG-1 was conceived as a very simple and economical aircraft that could be built with modest construction skills and very little financial investment. The prototype was completed in 1970 for US$400 and subsequent aircraft were built for under US$1000.^[1]^[2]

The SG-1 is constructed with a welded steel fuselage and tail surfaces and covered with doped aircraft fabric. The wing is made from an aluminium structure, covered in aluminum sheet and features upper-surface spoilers and a modified Gö 549 airfoil. The landing gear is a monowheel with the forward fuselage protected by a skid. The airframe was static tested to 9g without failing.^[1]^[2]

With a very low stall speed of 32 mph (51 km/h), pilots who have flown the aircraft claim that the SG-1 can fly a thermal inside a Schweizer SGS 1-26.^[2]

Operational history

In April 2011 there was one SG-1 and one SG-1A on the Federal Aviation Administration registry.^[3]

Variants

SG-1: Prototype design, with V-struts and a constant-chord wing. One built.^[1]^[2]
SG-1A: Improved model, with double-tapered wings and single wing struts. About four built.^[1]^[2]

Aircraft on display

US Southwest Soaring Museum^[4]

Specifications (SG-1A)

Data from Sailplane Directory and Soaring^[1]^[2]

General characteristics

Crew: one
Wingspan: 40 ft 0 in (12.19 m)
Wing area: 125 sq ft (11.6 m²)
Aspect ratio: 15.4:1
Airfoil: modified Gö 549
Empty weight: 300 lb (136 kg)
Gross weight: 550 lb (249 kg)

Performance

Stall speed: 32 mph (51 km/h, 28 kn)
Never exceed speed: 100 mph (160 km/h, 87 kn)
Maximum glide ratio: 20:1 at 55 mph (89 km/h)
Rate of sink: 180 ft/min (0.91 m/s) at 47 mph (76 km/h)
Wing loading: 4.4 lb/sq ft (21 kg/m²)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Activate Media (2006). "SG-1A Scanlan". Archived from the original on May 6, 2002. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Said, Bob: 1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, page 18. Soaring Society of America, November 1983. USPS 499-920
^ Federal Aviation Administration (April 2011). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved April 6, 2011.
^ US Southwest Soaring Museum (2010). "Sailplanes, Hang Gliders & Motor Gliders". Retrieved May 26, 2011.

[SD-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Activate Media (2006). "SG-1A Scanlan". Archived from the original on May 6, 2002. Retrieved April 6, 2011.

[SoaringNov83-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Said, Bob: 1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, page 18. Soaring Society of America, November 1983. USPS 499-920

[FAAReg-3] Federal Aviation Administration (April 2011). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved April 6, 2011.

[SWSMCollection-4] US Southwest Soaring Museum (2010). "Sailplanes, Hang Gliders & Motor Gliders". Retrieved May 26, 2011.

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