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Alisport Srl
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May 2013 - STEVE ARNDT WINS FLORIDA 13.5m FAI CONTEST


Steve Arndt of Concord, New Hampshire won the Florida 13.5m FAI contest with his beautiful kit-built Silent 2 self-launch sailplane. The contest, held at Seminole Lake Gliderport, was attended by PW-5, Silent, and Sparrowhawk gliders.


Photos courtesy of Casey Cox of Reflection Film Productions

The next 13.5m FAI contest in North America is scheduled this summer (August 22nd to 30th) in Moriarty, New Mexico.
Two weeks prior to the 13.5m contest, Steve also flew his Silent 2 in the Seniors Championship (again held at Seminole Lake Gliderport in Florida). He placed a very respectable 10th overall in a contestant group of over 60 pilots including several well known national and regional champions. He also managed an impressive 1st place win on the final day of the Seniors Championship.

Congratulations Steve!

"GOODBYE AEROTOW"
After the "Silent 2 Electro" performance test, the articles written by pilot and journalist Aldo Cernezzi have been published in the March issue of "Volare" and "Gliding International" magazines.
A "Silent 2 Electro" with French registration marks was used to execute the flight test, which took place in the airport of Calcinate del Pesce (VA).
The "Silent 2 Electro" could be registered as Advanced Ultralight by Aeroclub d'Italia.
The procedure to obtain German certification is being in progress.

VOLARE        GLIDING INTERNATIONAL

AERO FRIEDRICHSHAFEN 2013


Alisport... with Silent 2 Electro and Silent 2 Targa will be present this year at "Aero 2013" at hall A1 Stand 302.
Come to visit us!

Silent 2 Targa - Take off from a beach in Ireland


Many thanks to Mr. Nicolaas Bosch and Mr. Paul Conran for the straordinary video of a take-ff from a wonderful beach, in the Dingle peninsula, Kerry, Ireland.

Silent 2 Electro BRS
Tests for installation of BRS on Silent 2 Electro have been finally ultimated. On january 2013 we will start the production of Silent 2 Electro with the option of Ballistic Rescue System. For sure a great step for Italian market, which was waiting for the installation of BRS on Silent 2 Electro to obtain the classification of "advanced ULM".

VOLO SPORTIVO
"12 minutes with an electric motor for 1,000 km"

The flight along Italy of our friends Leonardo Brigliadori and Luigi Bertoncini in the beginning of August has been successfully completed!

The flight was planned in 4 different steps, starting from Alzate Brianza (Como) to destination Grumento airport (Potenza).
A trip of 1000 km, using only 12 minutes of Electric motor, necessary to perform 4 take-offs and climbs until reaching first thermals.
Two friends, a lot of emotions in an adventure flight along Italy, from north to south, with a real touring motorglider.

Read the document
See route


8-9 September 2012
Silent 2 Electro at "European Electric Flight Meeting"
Alisport, will debut, with the Silent 2 Electro, to the first "European Electric Flight Meeting", in Carpentras airport (LFNH) in France, on 8th and 9th of September.

During the event, it will be possible to see the Silent 2 Electro during a demo flight.
Come to visit us!

Click here for program meeting


21-28 July 2012- Gérard Menier and his Silent 2 TARGA wins the "8 Jours de Fontainebleau 2012".
Mr. Gérard Menier, recently won with his Silent 2 TARGA the "8 Jours de Fontainebleau 2012" of Club Class 2012, disputed at Moret, in France.

Here the overall results.

Congratulations to Mr. Menier for his result


MARCH 2012: CERTIFIED IN FRANCE THE SILENT 2 ELECTRO


March 2012 - Canopy Glareshield

 

The glareshield is a useful accessory to help eliminate annoying reflections in the canopy, improving forward visibility and enhancing flight safety.

It is retrofittable to all versions of the Silent and is easily removed to allow free access for cleaning the inside of the canopy transparency.


November 2011 - CONSENSUS AND ORDERS FOR THE SILENT2 ELECTRO.
More and more pilots are interested in the electric version of the Silent and orders materialize.

Consensus spreads for this type of engine so simple and safe for the new Silent 2 Electro

In early 2012 the first deliveries begin in time for the opening of the spring season in Europe.

Many pilots aspire to compete in future races of the new FAI Class 13.5 m. with the Silent, now the best glider in its class.


October 2011 - INSTRUMENT FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE SILENT 2 ELECTRIC MOTOR.
This instrument, with a color LCD screen (57 mm dia.),is designed specifically for managing all functions of the electric motor on the Silent 2 ELECTRO.

The instrument, known as FCU, monitors and manages:

- Engine RPM coinciding with propeller revolutions
- Engine power output reading to reflect the need for take-off at max. power, rate of climb, level flight etc.

- Electric brake status of propeller

- Graphical indication of the battery status

- Temperature of the motor, controller and batteries

- Voltage and amperage of the batteries

This instrument sends automatic warning messages, both visual and acoustic, for information about discharge of the battery depending on the required power, temperatures of engine , battery and controller.

Besides the instrument automatically provides audible and visual (LED) warnings when exceeding the parameters set for the electric motor.

In addition of the primary screen, the instrument has more pages with statistical data.

The engine FCU is included along with other basic instruments provided in the standard configuration of the Silent 2 ELECTRO.


April 2011- Stefano Ghiorzo and his Silent 2 TARGA wins the Italian Championships of Club Class.

The15m World Champion, Mr. Stefano Ghiorzo, recently won with his Silent 2 TARGA the Italian Championship of Club Class 2011, disputed at Thiene airfield, in Italy.

Very good organization and hospitality of the "Aeroclub Prealpi Venete", 5 valid tests have been run, supported also by a generous and various weather.

It's the first time in Italy that the Silent 2 have competed with gliders of the Club Class and it has been a positive experience for its flight performances.

In the 2nd task, the Silent 2 of the French pilot André Louistisserand, and Stefano Ghiorzo, won respectively the 1st and the 2nd places.

In the 4th task, the three competing Silent 2 TARGA, qualified in the first three positions.

Here the overall results.

Congratulations to the new Italian Championship Stefano Ghiorzo.


April 2011- Alisport to premier Silent 2 ELECTRO at the "Aero 2011"
The self-launching Silent 2 TARGA with its very innovative propulsion system and folding nose-mounted propeller will debut at the AERO 2011 exhibition in Germany this April.

 

Here the photos and videos of the electic Silent 2's first flights


April 2011- "Ecolight" Swiss Certification for Silent 2 TARGA

4-5 Septembre 2010 - Salon de Blois (France)

Les deux agents Alisport pour la France étaient présents lors du Salon ULM de Blois les
4 et 5 Septembre 2010.
Le beau temps était au rendez-vous, et les nombreux visiteurs ont pu approcher le Silent 2 Targa exposé, et en admirer la qualité de fabrication.
L'intérêt était très grand lorsque la démonstration fut faite de la facilité de démontage
de la machine.


July 2010 - Silent 2 Targa Competes in French Club Class Championship

French pilot André Louistisserand placed 8th out of 26 participants at the French Club Class Championship held at Chalons-Ecury from the 24th to the 31st of July 2010.
He achieved a noteworthy 2nd place position on Day-4 of the contest with 990 points.
There were five days of competition flying.
Gliders such as the ASW20, LS4, Discus, etc are eligible to compete in the French Club Class.
Compliments to Andrè for competing with his Silent 2 Targa.
Complete results are available on Soaring Spot:
http://www.soaringspot.com/chalons_2010/results/


July 2010 - 3rd SILENT & ULM gliderFLY-IN

From the 8th to the 12th of July 2010 the 3rd Meeting for self-launching gliders was held in Valtellina, at the wonderful Caiolo airport, near Sondrio (Italy).
In cooperation with Alisport and the Italian Gliding Federation, and with the generous hospitality of the Aeroclub of Sondrio, the event was a great success, and provided great interest and entertainment for the Italian and international pilots who attended.
Many self-launching motorized gliders were present, including those most representative of the category: the Silent 2 (also in the TARGA version), the Apis, the Swift belonging to pilot Aristide Scotton, and the two-seat Taurus.
The presence of the Silent 2 TARGA in JET version, with its retractable turbine engine, was also of great interest.
Three ULM planes had been invited to the meeting, the CT, the Eurofox, and the Dynamic to carry out towing tests with different glider models.
The results were positive and all the tested gliders proved to be practical, affordable, and inexpensive to operate and maintain.
Of course they are modern and very good planes, replacing the old ones still used in the soaring clubs.
They are also a full solution to the need of setting up a new sailplane operation where one does not yet exist.
The Italian Gliding Federation as well as Alisport would like to thank all the participants and in particular the Italian manufacturer representatives who generously offered their aircraft and tug pilots.

Luigi Bertoncini

FIVV – ULM Gliding Commission


July 2010 - Certified in France the Silent 2 and the Silent 2 TARGA with ballistic parachute

Februar 2010 - SILENT 2 TARGA mit deutscher musterzulassung

Mit der Ausgabe der Ergänzung zur Musterzulassung Nr.: 61156.3 vom DAEC ist die deutsche Zulassung des Silent 2 TARGA abgeschlossen.

Der Silent 2 und der Silent 2 TARGA können in Deutschland sowohl mit eingebauten Gesamtrettungssystem als auch mit Rückenfallschirm zugelassen werden; welches System zur Anwendung kommt, kann man selbst entscheiden.

SILENT 2 TARGA certified in Germany

The German Aero Club (DAeC) has awarded a Type Certificate for the Silent 2 TARGA.
This addition to the certification of the Silent 2 approves the enhanced features specific to the Silent 2 Targa: variable incidence stabilizer, increased span, vertical-design winglets, and retractable landing gear. s

The Silent 2 and Silent 2 TARGA can be registered in Germany either with or without the ballistic parachute installed in the fuselage. Pilot may choose to fly exclusively with a personal parachute or, if the ballistic parachute is installed, with either the ballistic parachute alone or with both parachutes.

 

 


Novembre 2009 - Le kit du SILENT 2 TARGA est éligible en France pour la certification CNSK
La notification de cette éligibilité a été délivrée par la Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile Française qui a examiné toute la documentation demandée. La demande d'Alisport, qui visait à permettre la certification à partir d'un KIT de MONTAGE (produit en série) du SILENT 2 TARGA en version "planeur NON motorisé", s'est conclue favorablement en novembre 2009.
Avec la NOTIFICATION D'ELIGIBILITE D'AERONEF EN KIT n° 2B-00001, les constructeurs amateurs d'un SILENT 2 TARGA à partir d'un Kit  pourront demander en France la certification de type CNSK (Certificat de Navigabilité Spécial d'Aéronef en Kit).
La société Alisport est particulièrement satisfaite de ce résultat, parce que le Silent 2 Targa est le premier, et peut-être le seul planeur en composites construit en série, et disponible sous forme d'un véritable  kit de montage .
Le KIT est livré avec le Manuel de Construction détaillé, illustré d'environ 400 photos et dessins, et le Manuel de Vol complet.
Il est important aussi de rappeler que le Silent 2 TARGA, dans sa version NON motorisée, peut rentrer dans la catégorie FAI planeur DU (masse maxi au décollage – MTOW 220 kg.),  ce qui ouvre la possibilité de l'utiliser pour la conquête des records continentaux et internationaux en classe DU.
Des commandes de KIT du Silent 2 Targa seront déjà livrées à partir de avril 2010 .

November 2009 - Silent 2 Targa Kit Receives French Approval

Alisport is pleased to announce a significant certification milestone in France on the part of the French civil aviation authority (DGAC).
The DGAC evaluated the complete documentation of the commercially-produced pure glider
(non-motorized) kit of the Silent 2 Targa prior to issuing the approval in November 2009. With the release of "Kit Aircraft Eligibility Notification No. 2B-0001" all pilots interested in amateur-built construction can purchase a fully legal assembly kit of the Silent 2 Targa.  
Amateur-built construction allows the owner to request the registration of the Silent 2 Targa in France with a Special Kit Airworthiness Certificate (CNSK). The Alisport factory is proud of this approval as it is the first, and perhaps only, series production composite glider that can be purchased and constructed from a complete assembly kit.
The kit is furnished with an industry-leading and important "Kit Construction Manual" which includes over 400 images and drawings. A complete flight manual is also included.
It is important to remember that the Silent 2 Targa (non-motorized version) qualifies for the
FAI Class DU category for gliders under 220kg MTOW.
This allows the Silent to be used in pursuito of national and world records in the DU class.
Orders for kit versions of the Silent 2 Targa are available for delivery in the first months of 2010 allowing completion in time for the 2010 soaring season.


August 2009 - Maiden Flight of Jet - Powered  Silent 2 TARGA

The first flight of the jet-powered Silent 2 TARGA occurred on the 31 st of August 2009.
The 392 Newton (88 lbf) Titan engine from AMT www.amtjets.com completely retracts into the fuselage.
For the maiden flight the Silent 2 TARGA was towed aloft by a Dimona motorglider to an altitude of approximately 700 meters (2300 ft) with the engine initially stowed in the fuselage. Once off tow, the engine was started and shut down a total of three times. Several level-flight tests were performed with indicated airspeeds in the 170-180 kph (105-112 mph) range.
Tests to quantify self-launch parameters and climb performance at various wing loading are in progress. The Silent 2 TARGA shown will be delivered to the customer by the end of September.


Juliet 2009 - Nouvel agent pour le Sud de la France

Alpha - Lima est la société agent ALISPORT pour le Sud de la France.
Vous pouvez le contacter pour tout renseignement concernant les planeurs Silent.
Une tournée de démonstration est prévue courant septembre 2009. Si vous ou votre club/association êtes intéressé par une présentation chez vous, merci d'appeler ou d'envoyer
un e-mail.

Contact :

ALPHA – LIMA André Loustisserand silent@alpha-lima.fr

tel/répondeur/fax : 03 81 51 21 56


July 2009 - Ready for Immediate Delivery

New Silent 2 TARGA self-launch sailplane (serial number 2037) with ballistic recovery parachute ready for immediate delivery – in time for the soaring season http://www.alisport.com/eu/eng/silent2_targa1.htm .
This sailplane is certified in the German DAeC ULM category. It has the industry leading Alisport A302efi engine with electronic fuel-injection and a single blade propeller.

  

Basic soaring instruments and engine control panel are included (see photo). A clamshell trailer for storage and ground transportation is available on request.
Optional wing assembly equipment is also available for quick rigging.


30-31 May 1- 2 June 2009 - Self - launch Sailplane Gathering - Spessa Pò ( Pavia ) Airstrip , Italy

The second annual gathering of sport and recreation gliders at “CASCINA SPEZIANA” was a huge success. The event was hosted by the Corbellini family at their beautiful LA SPEZIANA grass airstrip located at Spessa Po' in the province of Pavia . See www.speziana.it for more information. The runway is situated only a few kilometers from the Appenine foothills from which it is practical to achieve beautiful cross country flights along the entire spine of the mountain range all the way to Tuscany , Umbria , or beyond.

All four days of the gathering were flyable with conditions varying each day. This year most flights were over the plains and foothills instead of the Appenine mountains and views of the Ligurian sea. Italian, French, and Swiss pilots attended the event with a few cancellations due to difficult weather enroute. A series of excellent photographs is available on the Italian Soaring Federation (FIVV) website.


June 2009 - Silent 2 Wins Region 5 East Contest, Jefferson , South Carolina , USA

A Silent 2 sailplane flown by Sarah Kelly claimed Sports Class first place at the Region 5 East contest hosted by Bermuda high Soaring www.glider.org  in Jefferson , South Carolina .
The Silent 2 pure sailplane flown by Sarah meets the difficult FAI Class-DU limit of 220 kg (485 lb)
max takeoff weight.
Accordingly, the published handicap set for the 300 kg ( 661 lb ) Silent 2 motorglider was officially adjusted for the 220 kg DU glider to correct for its lighter wing loading.
Sarah flew the glider well, taking advantage of the glider's better climb rate to overcome its reduction in best-glide speed and upwind penetration.
In her words, "The contest experience with such a light, easy to rig, and familiar sailplane was superb, and I thoroughly enjoyed each day."
See the SSA Contest Reports www.ssa.org/members/contestreports/ContestResultsDetail.asp?id=352  page for additional information.

Congratulations Sarah from the Alisport staff.


April 2009 - Silent 2 TARGA Jet-Powered

AliSport's attendance at this year's AERO was a huge success.

The biggest crowd pleaser was the debut presentation of the jet-powered variant of the 13.3 meter Silent 2 Targa.

The single-engine jet powerplant is still a
pre-production prototype and performance data will be released only once the flight test program is in an advanced stage.

A decision to enter series production has yet to be determined.

The installation details differ from that of the sucessful and concept-defining 12.0 meter Silent twin-jet flown by Bob Carlton on the airshow circuit
http://www.alisport.com/video/silent%20be-jet.wmv


March 2009 - Ballistic Recovery System available for the Alisport Silent 2 TARGA
All models of the Silent are now available with an optional ballistic recovery parachute system
integrated into the fuselage structure.
The system, in development for three years, uses a pyrotechnic rocket and a Junkers Magnum 300
parachute with a 66 m2 (710 sq. ft.) round canopy.
The system can be used at speeds up to the Vne of 220 km/h (137 mph) and full canopy inflation
occurs within 80 m. (262 ft) of altitude loss.
The Alisport "total rescue system" is housed in a structural compartment located in the lower
portion of the fuselage just aft of the wings. The compartment, identical for unpowered and
powered variants of the Silent, is positioned so that it allows room for the standard self-launch
engine and pylon installation.
In-motion ground firing tests (see the photo sequence below) were performed to obtain
certification from the DAeC in Germany for the Silent with an installed ballistic recovery system.
The pyrotechnic rocket exits the right side of the fuselage immediately aft of the flaperon.
Once fired, the recovery parachute takes 5 to 6 seconds to stabilize and orient itself vertically
above the sailplane.
The lines of the side-firing system transition to the vertical by means of a steel cable segment of
the parachute bridle tearing through a sacrificial portion of the fuselage skin.
The parachute bridle straps are tethered to the wing spars to guarantee the most contiguous
attachment to the airframe.
The complete system weighs approximately 9.5 kg (21 lbs). According to European regulations
pertaining to sport aircraft, the maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) for aircraft equipped with
recovery systems can be increased from 300 kg (661 lbs) up to 322.5 kg (710 lbs).
The Silent 2 Targa with the rescue system is one of two new developments Alisport will display at
the AERO 2009 convention (Hall B2, Stand 101) from April 2nd through 5th in Friedrichshafen,
South-Germany.
1. Silent "total rescue system".
2. Structural compartment.
3. Cover panel removed.
4. Test preparations.
5. Pyrotechnic firing.
6. Five seconds to full inflation.
7. Fuselage scar and burn marks.

2009 - Alisport Returns to Germany for AERO 2009, Friedrichshafen

AERO is the premier European trade show for general aviation, which occurs every two years in the scenic city of the Zeppelins - Friedrichshafen, Germany. This year's event runs from April the 2nd through the 5th.

Alisport will present its complete range of Silent gliders to both the German and International market.
The self-launcing Silent 2 TARGA with retractable gear and variable incidence stabilizer will be on display at stand No 101, Hall B2.

Visit the www.aero-friedrichshafen.com website for additional information


2009 - Performance Handicaps established for Sport and Recreation Gliders
To compete in the international ONLINE CONTEST - OLC
handicap values have been published for several light sailplanes including the SILENT .
The handicap numbering method differs from the system used the SSA for North American contests.


June 2008 - Motorized "Sport & Recreation" Sailplane Gathering, Spessa Po', Pavia, Italy

A special gathering of gliders occurred from June 20 th to the 22 nd 2008 at the Speziana airstrip near Pavia in northern Italy . The combined event included both modern light sailplanes and vintage gliders. The first-of-its-kind event drew about fifteen pilots and their motorized aircraft; sailplanes capable of autonomous taxiing and self-launching. The attendees came from all parts of Italy and for many this was the first opportunity to meet and visit with fellow self-launch sailplane owners, as guests of the Corbellini family at their beautiful airstrip.

Gliders in attendance included variants of the 12-meter Silent Club, including an electric
self-launcher, Silent 2's, Silent 2 Targa's, Tauruses, and a Swift, all capable of self-launching and retracting their engines into the fuselage. Vintage gliders included a Schleicher Ka-6, Morelli M-100, and a beautiful Libelle H301, towed aloft courtesy of tug pilots Tessitore and Borgo with their vintage Stinson L5, and Pietra with a gorgeous Piper PA-18 and a YUMA.
The event was a complete success with much gliding activity thanks to the three days of summer sun and heat on the tail end of two weeks of continuous rain; the cultivated fields were still waterlogged and the Po' a very swollen river. Numerous friends with airplanes and motorgliders also flew in to visit the Speziana airstrip during the event. A warm “arriverderci” until next year's gathering of light sailplanes.


June 2008 - ESA Eastern Workshop, Tidewater Soaring Society, Virginia,USA
Alisport attended the ESA's Eastern Workshop on Friday June 13th and Saturday June 14th at Garner Field (3VA8) in Orbit, Virginia. This is the first time that the Tidewater Soaring Society (TSS) www.tidewatersoaring.org has hosted the workshop.
The event was well attended and the TSS did an excellent job of hosting the gathering.
Presentations were given by Jerry Gross, Leo Benetti-Longhini, Dr. Mark Maughmer, Wolf Elber, Wayne Smith, Travis Beach, Alan Campbell, Nathan Depenbusch, Kirk Miles, and Jason Slaby. Excellent weather also permitted numerous soaring flights. The location of next year's Eastern workshop will be in New York. See the Experimental Soaring Association www.esoaring.com for additional information.

June 2008 - SILENT 2 TARGA certifié en France
La version TARGA du Silent 2, que nous rappelons a des nouvelles winglets, le train d'atterrissage escamotable et le stabilisateur mobile avec le mouvement du levier des volets a été identifié par DIRECTION GENERALE DE L'AVIATION CIVILE FRANCAISE avec le code B103SF02039L du 14 mai 2008.

February 2008 - Motorized Silent 2 Certified in Swiss "Ecolight" Category

In another significant airworthiness step, following last year's German certification of the self-launching Silent 2 on April 17th, the Silent 2 obtained certification in the Swiss motorized "Ecolight" category on January 31st 2008. The Silent 2 is also the very first glider to be granted certification by the Swiss Confederation. The new "Ecolight" qualification allows the Silent to be legally flown within the borders of the Swiss Confederation (ULM flights were previously not permitted) and opens the doors for anxiously waiting Swiss pilots to obtain Silent gliders. The first Swiss Silent 2 will be delivered in March of 2008.

For additional information regarding Swiss purchase and registration of a Silent, please contact our authorized Swiss representative:

Mr. Andrea Maeder
Ph: +41 (0) 91 760 0565
Fax: +41 (0) 91 760 0569
e-mail:andrea.maeder@manifesto.ch www.alisport.com


February 2008 - SSA Convention, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Alisport was present at the 2008 SSA Convention with the new self-launch Silent 2 TARGA and Bob Carlton's Twin Jet Silent. The event, running from Thursday February 14th through Saturday February 16th, was held at the Albuquerque Convention Center in the beautiful southwestern state of New Mexico. The two exhibit halls were sold out of floor space and the forty-plus presentations well-attended.

Bob Carlton of Silent Wings Airshows presented on the current state of jet propulsion in gliders around the world and Alisport's US representative, Leo Benetti-Longhini, provided an update during the Auxillary-Powered Sailplane Association (ASA) breakfast on manufacturing developments at the factory. Interest in the various models of the "class-defining" Silent was exceptionally high.


October 2007 - New Winglets for the Silent Club
New winglets are now available for the 12-meter Silent Club. They are easy to attach (via a glove on the original tip) and are vey effective. For additional information contact Mr. Ole Böettger, (Hamburg, Germany) via e-mail ole.boettger@gmx.de or phone +49 40 6907 460.
Details from Mr. Ole Boettger: Winglets for the Silent club. Best L/D improved to ~33. Easy retrofit (with glove upon original outer wingI). 1000 EUR plus tax and shipping.

September 28 th 2007 - Silent 2 TARGA Kit Completion and Maiden Flight,
Virginia, USA

Mike Hostage of Norfolk, Virginia successfully flew the maiden flight of his kit-built Silent 2 TARGA pure sailplane on September 16th 2007 after receiving his airworthiness certificate on the 8th of September. He wisely progressed through ground roll and ground effect auto tows before transitioning to the first aero tow. The first two flights were uneventful and each lasted over an hour to fully explore the handling characteristics and performance envelope of his sailplane
(N-195MH). Mr. Hostage concluded that his sailplane was spot-on and needed no tuning adjustments.

Mike's sailplane was built per the kit manual's instructions and design drawings, but with some builder deviations for the instrument panel and the tow hook.He painted the sailplane with two-part polyurethane from Loehle Aero Coatings. Mike informs us that the empty weight and balance was right in the center of the allowable range and the empty weight was 147 kg (324 lbs) – very comparable to factory gliders having similar options and features (retract gear, hinged canopy, etc).

Mr. Hostage talks positively about the quality of his Silent quick-build kit. He is an experienced builder who previously built a Marske flying wing from plans. In the short term, Mike plans to continue flying his Silent 2 TARGA as a non-motorized sailplane and hopes to explore electric self-launch options at a later date. Congratulations from all of us at the factory!


August 2007 - First Canadian Silent 2 TARGA takes Flight, Quebec, Canada

Silent 2 TARGA s/n 2027, C-GODY, recently took to the clear Canadian skies after one month of ocean voyage and within three weeks of delivery – time needed to complete paperwork formalities. The pure sailplane (registered C-GODY) is based at the Bromont Airport in the province of Quebec - about 86 km (53 miles) east of Montreal, Quebec and 82 miles (132 km) north of Burlington, Vermont. The glider is the first Silent imported into Canada and therefore has a Special Certificate of Airworthiness in the limited classification for non Canadian type-certified gliders. This particular Silent has the standard TARGA vertical-style winglets and ingenious variable-incidence stabilizer interconnected with the flaperons. It currently has a fixed landing gear and will be retrofitted with a retractable mainwheel plus a self-launch powerplant as soon as the pending regulatory approvals are received from the Canadian authorities.

The sailplane has been test flown by several experienced Canadian CFI pilots and all are impressed with its light weight, ease of rigging, predictable flight characteristics, balanced handling, banked slow-flight behavior, ability to climb in weak thermals, effective airbrakes, and short-field landing capabilities. Above all, the pilots are enamored with the innovative variable-incidence stabilizer: specifically the absence of conventional spring trim with its artificial stick pressures, the elimination of elevator trim drag, and most importantly the pitch-control redundancy provided by a separate control system connected to the flaperons. A video clip of a trial flight by CFI Pierre Moreau, including post-flight commentary, is available for download from YouTube.

June 22-24, 2007 - EAA Fly-In, Front Range Airport, Colorado, USA
An excellent video by Dave Radomski of Aurora, Colorado. The video shows Bob Carlton performing his signature aerobatic routine with wing-tip pyrotechnics and graceful maneuvers in front of a stunning backdrop.

See the Videogallery page of the website to download the movie.

April 22nd, 2007 - 500km Distance to Goal, Florida, USA
Leo Benetti-Longhini informs us that at the conclusion of Sun 'n Fun at Lakeland and the Wills Wing Demo Days at Wallaby Ranch he was able to fly a 500km declared distance in a Silent 2 glider. The northbound flight, from Wallaby in Florida to Montezuma Airport in Georgia, was performed in an FAI Class DU non-motorized Silent 2 glider (under 220kg T/O weight).

Leo reports that there was a challenging 15kt crosswind for first half of flight, followed by heavy smoke with almost IFR visibility across south Georgia from the Okefenokee swamp fires, then blue sky past Tifton. He terminated the 6.5 hour flight at the declared goal due to battery problems, instead of proceeding for a free distance attempt. The flight has since been approved for two Florida state records - one in the DU class and one in the Sports class.


Leo wishes to thank ground crew and Sun 'n Fun volunteers, Daniel Schur and John Dotson, who followed the entire way and arrived within minutes at Montezuma, Georgia.


April 2007 - Motorized Silent 2 certified in Germany
GERMANY
Kennblatt nr. 61156.2
Vom 17.04.2007

A significant milestome for the AliSport team.
Formal announcement of the recently received German Certification of the SILENT 2 was given during the all-important AERO 2007 exhibition at Friedrichshafen.

For information regarding airworthiness registration of the Silent 2 or flight licensing in Germany, please
contact AliSport's authorized German representative:

Junkers Profly GmbH
Flugplatz 1
95326 Kulmbach
Tel:+49 (0) 9221 879 312
Fax: +49 (0) 9221 879 313
E-Mail: junkers_profly_gmbh@t-online.de

www.junkers-profly.de


April 2007 - Alisport returns to Germany for AERO 2007
AERO Friedrichshafen is the premier European trade show for general aviation, which occurs every two years in the scenic city of the Zeppelins - Friedrichshafen, Germany. This year's event ran from April the 19th through the 22nd.

Alisport presented its complete range of Silent gliders to both the German and International market. The new self-launching Silent 2 TARGA with retractable gear and variable incidence stabilizer were on display at the large stand.


Visit the www.aero-friedrichshafen.com website for additional information.


March 2007 - Avalon, Victoria, Australia

Bob Carlton of Silent Wings Airshows performed five day-shows and one night-show at the 2007 Australian International Exposition and Airshow.
The multi-day event at Avalon, about 40 miles from Melbourne, included the three-day "Australian International Aerospace & Defense Exposition" followed by the weekend-long "Australian
International Airshow". More than 200,000 spectators were in attendance on Saturday.
The jet Silent received rave reviews, including approval from non-other than Chuck Yeager, a guest of honor at the event. Mr. Carlton commented very favorably about the organizers, sponsors, and enthusiastic attendees.

See the Silent Wings Airshow website for additional airshow performances this year.


Photo by Steve Griffin


Easy one-person wing assembly of the Silent
Assembly of the Silent is simple thanks to the one-person manual rig or electric rig. The electric rig has remote control to provide quicker adjustment.

 

Either system is very convenient for those times when the assistance of a second person is unavailable.
The assembly sequence is presented pictorially for each step.
Request pricing and delivery of the one-person wing assembly dolly.

November 2006 - Variable Incidence Horizontal Stabilizer

The sailplane is trimmed in pitch via an innovative variable-position horizontal stabilizer. The stabilizer position is governed by the flaperon setting: the five settings of the flap control produce corresponding changes to the stabilizer incidence, thus defining the trim airspeed in relation to the flap requirements. The conventional elevator remains in trail, minimizing trim drag.

Click on the photo for more details.


March 2006 - FAI Gliding Commission IGC Meetings, Lausanne, Switzerland

A proposal of interest to Silent owners was accepted at the March 3-5th meeting of the IGC in Lausanne, Switzerland. Agenda item 12.3.3.g, originating from the French Gliding Federation (FFVV), calls for a new FAI class of motorized gliders under 300kg (660lbs) and 450kg (990lbs), max take-off weight (TOW) for single-seaters and two-seaters respectively, and a stall speed of 65km/h (35kts) or less.

The proposal lists several reasons (lower costs, reduced bureaucracy, no medical requirements, etc) as reasons for the emergence of many light self-launchers meeting these weight and stall speeds. The weight and stall values given match the requirements for light aircraft in most European countries (most often described with general names such as microlights, ULM’s, ultralights, sport and recreation aircraft, etc, depending on the country in question).

The proposal goes on to state that, even though there is always a risk of having too many classes of gliders, it would be a missed opportunity if the IGC does not recognize the importance of establishing a class to accommodate this thriving segment of aviation. Whether such a new class would be a variant of the existing DU class (non-powered with max TOW of 220kg) or a totally new class is not yet known. The proposal is open for comments for one year. If adopted, the benefits to owners of self-launch Silents cannot be overlooked.


March 2006 - Silent 2 TARGA and Silent 2 Comparison
ENGLISH VERSION (pdf 811 kb)
FRENCH VERSION (pdf 853 kb)

July 2005 - Another World Record for the Silent 2
Zapata, Texas, USA
Gary Osoba significantly raised the bar in the FAI’s DU-Class record rankings by flying approximately 604 miles (972 km) on Monday July 18th in a Silent 2 pure sailplane. The free-distance flight put Osoba within a mere arm’s length of surpassing 1000 kilometers, the “Holy Grail” of the DU glider class and a hurdle not unlike the first 1000km achieved with a Sisu back in the 1960’s. Gary reports that conditions at Zapata were strangely lacking the early morning cloud-streeting that the Texas border town is known for. He went on to say that there was some organization of cloud streets once on the plateau north of Uvalde and his speed was good until conditions deteriorated about halfway into the flight. He expects that analysis of his flight trace will show average lift in the 300-400 fpm (1.5 to 2.0 m/s) range. Gary ultimately made it well into the Texas “panhandle” and landed safely at a ranch near Amarillo, Texas.

It is also worth reporting that, after towing half the pilots at the WRE, Bo Hagewood went on to set a new single-surface hang-glider world record of approximately 190 miles (305 km) in a borrowed Falcon. Another participant, Robin Hamilton, also set a new distance record of about 425 miles (684 km) in a Swift. So we have a truly amazing “Record Monday” with three new records in gliders of vastly different performance, ranging from a Falcon to a Swift to a Silent! From all of us at AliSport, congratulations Gary, Bo, and Robin. May you all have additional successful flights in the next few weeks.
Osoba comments very favorably on the handling and performance of the Silent 2 and plans to make more distance and/or speed attempts in the near future. After Zapata, the Silent 2 will likely be flown at Big Spring, Texas while the 2005 US National Hang Gliding Championships are held there. With exception to some large scale weather phenomena, conditions in Texas have been considerably drier this year than in 2004. Osoba’s exhausting 10-hour 40-minute flight was barely squeezed into a challenging weather window between the remnants of Hurricane Dennis and fast approaching Hurricane Emily. See the Oz Report for additional reporting by Davis Straub or David Glover’s excellent WRE blog.

April 2005 - New DU Record Flight, Georgia, USA
David Stevenson of Atlanta, Georgia, USA flew over 900km (560 miles) on Sunday April 24th, 2005 in a Silent 2 pure sailplane. He launched at 9:10 AM from Jasper, Marion Co. airport in Tennessee where he was towed by John Bloomfield of Chilhowee Gliderport to his release point in the northwest corner of his home state of Georgia. After some tricky saves in the weak, early morning lift he was able to connect with the Sequatchie ridge and proceeded to his first turnpoint at the northern edge of the Sequatchie Valley near Interstate-40. Next, he headed south into Alabama to his second turnpoint at Collinsville (halfway between Fort Payne and Gadsen), then north again to his third turnpoint back in the Sequatchie near Dunlap, Tennessee.

Stevenson then headed southeast aiming for Charleston, South Carolina and the Atlantic coast! After several more difficult saves crossing a wet drainage area of the Tennessee River he finally reached higher and drier terrain in the southern Appalachians. From there the conditions improved as he continued toward his goal. The next challenges came first with a low of 400m (1400 feet) AGL near Athens, Georgia followed almost immediately by a flight computer shut down caused by a faulty electrical connection. Fortunately the logger continued to record the flight while David switched to his back-up sectional charts. Nine and one half hours after the start he landed at Hampton, South Carolina. He was assisted in his venture by fellow pilot and ground crew, Murray Forbes of Atlanta.
Preliminary statistics are 95 km/h (59 mph) average cross-country speed, 28% thermalling time with average 1.9 m/s (370 ft/min) climb, 49.7 L/D, and 61 glides with 136 km/h (85 mph) average glide speed. His data file is available for download on the website of the AeroKurier OLC. Stevenson plans to submit his flight to the NAA and FAI for record approval as a declared 3-turnpoint distance in the DU category. His RECORD complements other records set with the Silent 2 and brings the elusive 1000km DU hurdle even closer to reality. Congratulations, David on your amazing achievement.

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