The L-13SE Motor Glider as a Flying Laboratory

Abstract

This paper deals with the use of a flying laboratory that is based on an L-13SE Vivat motor glider.  The ultimate objective of this concept is the measurements of aerodynamic profile characteristic.  The theoretical and experimental verification of the basic characteristics of the motor glider are, however, required before it can perform as a laboratory.  The computational estimations of the aircraft longitudinal trim are presented here.  These results are compared with those obtained in flight tests.  The aim was to verify the computational predictions with experimental ones.  For this purpose, relatively simple and inexpensive flight measurements were performed with the motor glider used as the flying laboratory.  The measurements that are necessary corrections of the pitot-static system were done before the actual measurements of aircraft longitudinal characteristics.  The theoretical predictions of the characteristic of the motor glider longitudinal trim were carried out with a minimum of simplifications.  The computations of the needed aerodynamic characteristics of the motor glider were performed using standard analytical methods that were modified for this aircraft type.