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Kalbermatten Woopy

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Woopy
Role Hang glider
National origin Switzerland
Designer Laurent de Kalbermatten
Status Prototypes only

The Kalbermatten Woopy is a Swiss high-wing, single-place, hang glider that was designed by Laurent de Kalbermatten of Villars-sur-Glâne. The aircraft seems to have been just developed to prototype stage and it is not clear if production was undertaken.[1]

Design and development

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The Woopy fuselage is made from aluminum tubing, with a conventional tail, a seated pilot position and weight shift controls. The wing is inflatable and based on the same concept as an air mattress, kept inflated by two small battery-powered fans. Launch and landing is carried out on foot.[1]

Much of the development was undertaken using scale flying models to speed construction and reduce pilot risk.[1]

Two models were developed, the Woopy Fly and the Woopy Jump, plus a powered version of the Woopy Fly.[1]

Variants

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Woopy Fly
Initial model. Its 9.7 m (31.8 ft) span wing is inflatable and has an aspect ratio of 4.58:1 and a wing area is 20.5 m2 (221 sq ft). The glider empty weight is 17 kg (37 lb) and it has a glide ratio of 9:1.[1]
Powered Woopy Fly
A powered version of the Woopy Fly was developed in Siberia and flown with a 150 cc (9.2 cu in) two-stroke engine that gave it an empty weight of 33 kg (73 lb) and a cruise speed of 45 km/h (28 mph) with a 70 cm (28 in) propeller.[1]
Woopy Jump
More portable development model. Its wing is also inflatable and the glider empty weight is 7 kg (15 lb) and the aircraft can be folded into a bag 160 cm (63 in) long.[1]

Specifications (Woopy Fly)

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Data from Bertrand[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 9.7 m (31 ft 10 in)
  • Wing area: 20.5 m2 (221 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 4.58:1
  • Empty weight: 17 kg (37 lb)

Performance

  • Maximum glide ratio: 9:1

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 48. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
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