The Prue Super Standard is an
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
,
high-wing
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple planes.
A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing confi ...
, single-seat,
FAI Standard Class glider
Glider may refer to:
Aircraft and transport Aircraft
* Glider (aircraft), heavier-than-air aircraft primarily intended for unpowered flight
** Glider (sailplane), a rigid-winged glider aircraft with an undercarriage, used in the sport of glidin ...
that was designed by
Irving Prue in 1962 as a development of the
Prue Standard
The Prue Standard is an American high-wing, single-seat, V-tailed, FAI Standard Class Glider (sailplane), glider that was designed by Irving Prue.Rogers, Bennett: ''1974 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine'', page 34. Soaring Society of Ameri ...
.
[Rogers, Bennett: ''1974 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine'', page 34. Soaring Society of America, August 1974. USPS 499-920]
Design and development
After Prue fielded the Standard in 1961 he quickly set about improving the design based on initial experience. The Super Standard appeared as a result, in 1962.
The Super Standard incorporated many changes, including a conventional low-tail to replace the Standard's
V-tail, which was intended to reduce
induced drag
In aerodynamics, lift-induced drag, induced drag, vortex drag, or sometimes drag due to lift, is an aerodynamic drag force that occurs whenever a moving object redirects the airflow coming at it. This drag force occurs in airplanes due to wings or ...
in circling flight. Other changes included a two-piece canopy, a
fuselage
The fuselage (; from the French ''fuselé'' "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section. It holds crew, passengers, or cargo. In single-engine aircraft, it will usually contain an engine as well, although in some amphibious aircraft t ...
with less height,
trailing edge dive brakes
Diving most often refers to:
* Diving (sport), the sport of jumping into deep water
* Underwater diving, human activity underwater for recreational or occupational purposes
Diving or Dive may also refer to:
Sports
* Dive (American football), a ...
and the use of a different
airfoil
An airfoil (American English) or aerofoil (British English) is the cross-sectional shape of an object whose motion through a gas is capable of generating significant lift, such as a wing, a sail, or the blades of propeller, rotor, or turbine.
...
. Whereas the Standard employs the
NACA 63-618 airfoil, the Super uses the NACA 65-518. As required by the Standard Class rules, the Super Standard has no water ballast and the
landing gear
Landing gear is the undercarriage of an aircraft or spacecraft that is used for takeoff or landing. For aircraft it is generally needed for both. It was also formerly called ''alighting gear'' by some manufacturers, such as the Glenn L. Martin ...
is a fixed monowheel.
The wing skins of the prototype Super are thick ones made from
magnesium
Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg and atomic number 12. It is a shiny gray metal having a low density, low melting point and high chemical reactivity. Like the other alkaline earth metals (group 2 of the periodic ta ...
that allow fewer
wing rib
In an aircraft, ribs are forming elements of the structure of a wing, especially in traditional construction.
By analogy with the anatomical definition of "rib", the ribs attach to the main spar, and by being repeated at frequent intervals, form ...
s to be used. Later Supers built used
aluminium
Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. I ...
wing skins, including the conforming certification prototype. Despite the improvements, the Super's glider ratio and minimum sink rates are identical to the Standard's.
Prue pursued
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic m ...
aircraft
type certification
A type certificate signifies the airworthiness of a particular category of aircraft, according to its manufacturing design (''type design''). It confirms that the aircraft of a new type intended for serial production, is in compliance with applica ...
for the Super Standard in anticipation of series production. The type certificate was awarded on 28 December 1964, but only three aircraft were completed, the prototype in the ''
Experimental - amateur-built'' category, one in the ''
Experimental - certification compliance'' category and one certified example.
Operational history
The famous sailplane photographer,
Alex Aldott, set the Hungarian national distance record of in a Prue Super Standard.
In June 2011 two Super Standards were still registered with the FAA, with the third listed as having its registration revoked.
Specifications (Super Standard)
See also
References
External links
Photo of the Super Standard in flight
on the cover of Soaring Magazine
''SOARING'' is a magazine published monthly as a membership benefit of the Soaring Society of America. It was first published in 1937. The headquarters is in Hobbs, New Mexico. The magazine's article topics include safety issues and accounts of ind ...
, October 1964
{{Irving Prue aircraft
1960s United States sailplanes
Homebuilt aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1962