Schempp-Hirth Discus

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Schempp-Hirth Discus

A Czech-built Discus CS at Eindhoven, Netherlands.
Type designation	Discus
Competition class	Standard
Number built	850 +
Crew	1
Length	6.41 m (Discus a) 6.58 m (Discus b)
Height	1.30 m
Cockpit width	0.55 m (Discus a) 0.62 m (Discus b)
Cockpit height	0.74 m (Discus a) 0.80 m (Discus b)
Wingspan	15 m
Wing area	10.58 m²
Aspect ratio	21.3
Wing profile	HX 83
Empty mass	ca. 230 kg
Water ballast	190 kg
Tail Water ballast	6 kg
Maximum mass	525 kg
Wing loading	ca. 31 – 49.6 kg/m²
Maximum speed	250 km/h
Rough air speed	180 km/h
Stall speed	66 km/h
Minimum sink rate	ca. 0.59 m/s
Best glide ratio	42.5 at 100 km/h

The Schempp-Hirth Discus is a Standard Class sailplane produced by Schempp-Hirth between 1984 and 1995. It replaced the Standard Cirrus. It was designed by Klaus Holighaus.

Studies had long shown that the leading edge of the ideal wing should be a crescent shaped in plan view and so an approximation of this shape was adopted for the Discus, though to keep production costs down, the actual shape of the leading edge near the tips is more angular. The wing section was also new. Winglets were only available towards the end of the production run, though many have been retro-fitted. The fuselage and tail were adapted from the Schempp-Hirth Ventus. A version with a narrow fuselage is called the Discus 'a' and the wider fuselage version is called the 'b'. The fuselage is made of glass reinforced plastic around a steel tube frame. The wings and tail surfaces are also fiberglass with the exception of the main wing spar, which is made of carbon fiber. There is a 5kg/11lb. water ballast tank in the fin for trimming purposes when the main wing mounted ballast tanks are in use.

The Discus dominated standard class sailplane racing throughout the 1980's, winning the 1985, 1987 and 1989 World Gliding Championships. Over 20 years after its introduction, it remains competitive today. In the 1999 Standard Class Nationals, Discus A models finished First, Third and Sixth. Another "A" model was flown to 2nd place in the 2002 Standard Class Nationals.

The best measured glide ratio is 42.5:1. Though it is considered a high performance sailplane, its handling is well within the capabilities of inexperienced pilots. With no bad manners, powerful airbrakes and a low landing speed, the Discus is popular with clubs. Discii are easy gliders to assemble, having light wings, automatic control hookups and a single pin securing the wings.

Over 850 Discii had been built by 2004 and it remains in production today despite the introduction of its successor, the Schempp-Hirth Discus-2. About 12 per year are built under license by Orlican in the Czech Republic as the Discus CS. Some models are fitted with small sustaining engines (turbos) and are designated Discus T.

Czech-built Discus CS, Williams, California.

References

• [Schempp-Hirth Website]
• Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965-2000, Eqip, 2004
• [Specifications of Schempp-Hirth Discus]
• Soaring Society of America [link]

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