Offpiste Discovery
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Role | Hang glider |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Offpiste Aviation Limited |
| Designer | Bill Pain |
| Status | Production completed |
| Produced | mid-2000s |
| Unit cost |
£2,800 (Discovery 160, 2004) |
The Offpiste Discovery is a series of British high-wing, single or two-place, hang gliders that were designed by Bill Pain and produced by Colin Lark's company Offpiste Aviation Limited (English: Off The Beaten Track) of Dursley, Gloucestershire. Now out of production, when it was available the series of aircraft were supplied complete and ready-to-fly.[1][2]
Design and development
The Discovery series was designed as a Super Floater glider, for fun, local flying and an emphasis on lightness of weight, ease of rigging and simple handling requirements. It is made from aluminum tubing, with the single-surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. All models were British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association certified.[1]
The series have been frequently used in conjunction with a powered harness, as powered hang gliders.[1]
By the mid-2000s the series had become the best-selling hang gliders in the UK.[3]
Variants
- Discovery 160
- Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 9.14 m (30.0 ft) span wing is cable braced from a single kingpost. The nose angle is 125°, wing area is 14.8 m2 (159 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 5.6:1. The pilot hook-in weight range is 55 to 89 kg (121 to 196 lb).[1]
- Discovery 195
- Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 10.36 m (34.0 ft) span wing is cable braced from a single kingpost. The nose angle is 125°, wing area is 18.1 m2 (195 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 5.6:1. The pilot hook-in weight range is 66 to 102 kg (146 to 225 lb).[1]
- Discovery 195S
- Reinforced 195 model for much heavier pilots. Its 10.36 m (34.0 ft) span wing is cable braced from a single kingpost. The nose angle is 125°, wing area is 18.1 m2 (195 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 5.6:1. The pilot hook-in weight range is 85 to 135 kg (187 to 298 lb).[1]
- Discovery Bi 210
- Model for dual use. Its 10.7 m (35.1 ft) span wing is cable braced from a single kingpost. The nose angle is 125°, wing area is 19.6 m2 (211 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 5.6:1. The pilot hook-in weight range is 114 to 178 kg (251 to 392 lb).[1]
Specifications (Discovery 160)
Data from Bertrand[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Wingspan: 9.14 m (30 ft 0 in)
- Wing area: 14.8 m2 (159 sq ft)
- Aspect ratio: 5.6:1
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 47. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
- ↑ "Skyfloating, Colin Lark and the Discovery". skyfloating.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2005. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- ↑ "About Offpiste Aviation Ltd.". skyfloating.com. Archived from the original on 12 February 2002. Retrieved 20 February 2016.