The Prue IIA is an American, high-wing, two-seat, T-tailed glider that was designed by Irving Prue and constructed by Ed Minghelle of Palmdale, California.[1][2][3]
| IIA | |
|---|---|
| Role | Glider |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Ed Minghelle |
| Designer | Irving Prue |
| First flight | October 1964 |
| Introduction | 1964 |
| Status | Sole example in the National Soaring Museum |
| Primary user | Ed Minghelle |
| Number built | One |
| Developed from | Prue Two |
Design and development
editBased on the Prue Two, the IIA incorporates many changes to the basic design, including a T-tail in place of a low-tail, fixed instead of retractable landing gear, a shorter two-piece wing instead of a three-piece wing and an empty weight that is 210 lb (95 kg) lighter. The Prue IIA was built by Minghelle between 1961 and 1964, culminating in a first flight in October 1964.[1][2]
The Prue IIA has a 60 ft (18.3 m) wing that employs a NACA 63-618 airfoil. The aircraft is of all-metal construction and seats two in tandem under a long single-piece canopy.[1][2][4]
Operational history
editThe Prue IIA was used to set several multi-place glider records. It held the world out-and-return record of 366.88 mi (590.44 km) for a period of six months in 1967. A second world out-and-return record was set in 1972, flying 425.3 mi (684.5 km) from Pearblossom, California. In 1967 it was also flown to a world multi-place declared goal record of 322.35 mi (519 km).[1][2]
The IIA was removed from the Federal Aviation Administration aircraft registry on 16 March 1989 and now belongs to the National Soaring Museum.[1][3]
Aircraft on display
edit- National Soaring Museum - sole example, listed as "in storage".[5]
Specifications (Prue IIA)
editData from Sailplane Directory and Soaring[1][2]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Wingspan: 60 ft 0 in (18.29 m)
- Wing area: 185 sq ft (17.2 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 18.3
- Airfoil: NACA 63-618
- Empty weight: 880 lb (399 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,350 lb (612 kg)
Performance
- Maximum glide ratio: 36:1 at 60 mph (97 km/h)
- Rate of sink: 120 ft/min (0.61 m/s) at 45 mph (72 km/h)
- Wing loading: 6.2 lb/sq ft (30 kg/m2)
See also
editRelated lists
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Activate Media (2006). "IIA Prue". Archived from the original on August 19, 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f Said, Bob: 1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, page 55, Soaring Society of America November 1983. USPS 499-920
- ^ a b Federal Aviation Administration (June 2011). "Make / Model Inquiry Results N86671". Retrieved June 16, 2011.
- ^ Lednicer, David (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". Archived from the original on April 20, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
- ^ National Soaring Museum (2011). "Sailplanes in Our Collection". Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2011.