The Slingsby T51 Dart 17R ZK-GEZ c/n 1527 was imported for Hank Courtney and first flew here on 18-11-1967.
Lange Flugzeugbau GmbH of Zweibrucken, Germany was founded in 1996 with the sole purpose of producing the world’s first electric powered self launching high performance glider. A single seater, of 20m span, built of CRP/GRP composite, with a glide ratio in the order of 56:1 and a high VNE. It has full span flaperons, a T tail, Schempp-Hirth airbrakes, hydraulic retraction for the undercarriage and disc wheel braking.
But most intriguing of all is the EM42 engine of 38.5kw. This is a brushless, fixed shaft, external rotor electric motor. This engines time between overhauls is 900 hours with just the two sealing rings needing replacement at the 200 hour mark. The two metre propeller is attached directly to the rotating outer tube of the motor. This system was first tested in the LF20 glider (D-KLAF) on 07-05-1999 which was four years before the first Antares 20E flew. All systems are monitored by a multi sensored computer, with the cockpit display capable of showing preflight check lists which include warnings against applying power with the airbrakes unlocked/extended and also advises if the tail dolly is still attached. In flight the display requires very little monitoring because of its various audible warnings.
The battery system utilises Li-Ion cells, with a battery pack in each wing leading edge consisting of 24 modules containing three cells each. At full charge these can launch the Antares to around 9800ft or motor for 13 minutes. Because battery performance is affected by temperature the packs have their own electrical heating; either by charger whilst on the ground, or by using their own energy whilst airborne.
Airframe number 30 was first registered as D-KGLF and was collected from the factory by Bruce McNaughton on 14-09-2006 on behalf of a syndicate of three pilots from Tucson, Arizona who registered it as N29ZZ – It was the first Antares in the US. Sole ownership passed to Bill on 26-08-2008. This was cancelled on 17-06-2010 for its move to NZ and certification for Julian Elder of Hamilton. Julian previously was a member of a syndicate that operated the Glaser-Dirks DG400 ZK-GNZ.
The AMS name is not yet familiar to NZ aviation, but it was established in September 1999 out of ELAN, a much more familiar name in the gliding world since 1979 and builders of the DG (Glaser-Dirks) range and of the Rolladen-Schneider LS 4 and 6 gliders from 2005.
AMS took over Technoflug in 2001 we have had one Piccolo ZK-GOQ in NZ).
When AMS wanted to enter the ULA/Sports class glider field they acquired part of the Slovenian company Albaster in July of 2003. This included all the rights to their Apis range of light weight gliders and motor gliders.
There are various models available of the Apis, 13 & 15m wingspan light sailplanes including the electric powered model. ZK-GNR is a 13m model, amateur built machine.
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