OpenSky Aircraft Project

OpenSky is a Japanese project to create a jet-powered glider inspired by the "Möwe" aircraft flown by the protagonist in the Hayao Miyazaki anime "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind". [cite web | title= Jet-powered Nausicaa Glider Project | publisher = Slashdot | url=http://slashdot.org/articles/04/02/20/1537220.shtml?tid=159 | year = 2004 | month = February 21 | accessdate=2006-06-18] As of June 2006, two aircraft prototypes have been constructed, and one has successfully completed a series of 10 unpowered test flights where it flew 98 meters and achieved an altitude of 4 meters after being tow-launched by a tensed elastic cable. [cite web | year=2006| title=testflight060526_1.mov | format=MOV | work=OpenSky | publisher = Petworks.co.jp | url=http://www.petworks.co.jp/~hachiya/movie/testflight060526_1.mov | accessdate=2006-06-18] [cite web | title= Project OpenSky Takes Off | publisher = Slashdot | url=http://science.slashdot.org/science/06/06/17/0234235.shtml | year = 2006 | month = June 17 | accessdate=2006-06-18] The project is led by artist Kazuhiko Hachiya and includes engineers from AC-Olympos, artists, and students.

pecifications

aircraft specification
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=jet
crew=1
capacity=1
length main= 2083 mm
length alt= 6.83 ft
span main= 9636 mm
span alt= 31.61 ft
height main= 1057 mm
height alt= 3.47 ft
area main= 12.2 m²
area alt= 131.3 sq ft
airfoil= high forward camber, reflexed
empty weight main= 50 kg
empty weight alt= 110 lb
loaded weight main= 105 kg
loaded weight alt= 231 lb
useful load main= 50 kg
useful load alt= 110 lb
max takeoff weight main= 115 kg
max takeoff weight alt= 253 lb
more general=

Mean aerodynamic chord: 1287 mm (4.22 ft)

Aspect ratio: 3.74 (quite low for a glider)

L/D ratio: 18 (planned)

The wing is planned to be powered on take off and climb for a duration of 10 minutes, then flown unpowered as a glider.

Fuel capacity: 10 L (planned)

engine (jet)= (undisclosed engine)
type of jet=
number of jets= 1
thrust main= 40 kg
thrust alt= 88 lbf
thrust original=
afterburning thrust main=
afterburning thrust alt=
engine (prop)=
type of prop=
number of props=
power main=
power alt=
power original=

max speed main= 120 km/h
max speed alt= 75 mph
cruise speed main= (projected) 50–90 km/h
cruise speed alt= 31–56 mph
stall speed main= 36 km/h
stall speed alt= 23 mph
never exceed speed main= 200 km/h
never exceed speed alt= 124 mph
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main=
ceiling alt=
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main= 8.6 kg/sqm
loading alt= 0.0122 lb/sqin
thrust/weight= 0.36
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=

avionics=

ref=OpenSky website [cite web |url=http://www.petworks.co.jp/~hachiya/works/OpenSky_Q%26A.html |title=OpenSky Q&A |accessdate=2006-10-09 |last=Hachiya |first=Kazuhiko |publisher=OpenSky Project |language=Japanese]

References

External links

* [http://www.petworks.co.jp/~hachiya/works/OpenSky.html OpenSky webpage] (Japanese)
* [http://www.ac-olympos.com AC-Olympos website] (Japanese)