Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus

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The Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus is a high performance two seat glider primarily designed for fast cross-country flying including gliding competitions. It is often used for advanced training.

The Duo Discus replaced the Janus as Schempp Hirth's high performance two seater trainer. Although it shares its name with the highly successful Standard Class Discus, any resemblance is only superficial. It first flew in 1993 and is still in production at the factory in Orlican in the Czech Republic. It has a 20 metre four piece wing that is slightly swept forward so that the rear pilot is close to the centre of gravity. Its best glide ratio was measured as 44:1. An optional 'turbo' engine can be specified. The normal Duo Discus is also commonly seen as one the most beautifully designed and aesthetically pleasing modern 2 seat glider in production.

A revised model the Duo Discus X was announced in 2005. This has landing flaps incorporated into the movement of the airbrake lever to improve its approach control, giving steeper and slower approaches, it also has winglets to improve thermal flying and a sprung and lower retractable undercarriage. This makes it slightly harder to get in because the distance between the cockpit and ground is increased but the wings have a slightly higher angle of attack

Over 500 Duo Discuses had been built by August 2007. Its chief rival is now the DG Flugzeugbau DG-1000 & DG-1000T.

A Duo Discus was used in the 1999 film "The Thomas Crown Affair". This film shows the rear pilot reaching to front controls. This is normally physically impossible in any tandem two-seater. For the film the rear instrument panel was removed to allow the actor to take this bit of artistic license while on the ground. Undoing the seat straps in flight to allow the rear pilot to lean forward would also be hazardous, as unbelted pilots have been ejected through canopies by turbulence.

pecifications

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crew=Two
capacity=200 kg (440 lb) water ballast
length m=8.62
length ft=28
length in=3
span m=20.00
span ft=65
span in=7
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height m=ca. 1.60
height ft=5
height in=3
wing area sqm=16.4
wing area sqft=176
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volume m3=
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aspect ratio= 24.4
wing profile= HQ-31 A/XX
empty weight kg=410
empty weight lb=900
gross weight kg=700
gross weight lb=1,540
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max speed kmh=250
max speed mph=160
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glide ratio= 45
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sink rate ms= 0.58
sink rate ftmin= 114

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References

* [http://www.schempp-hirth.com/index.php?id=33&L=1 Specifications of Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus]