Supra Pro Competition Glass
Product Code: SUPRA-PRO-G
Description
Supra Pro Competition Glass
Supra Pro Competition Glass. This competition winning F3J model is a thermal duration soarer of the highest calibre. It was originally designed my Mark Drela, the world famous low speed aerodynamics professor at MIT and very gifted modeller, for bagged composite construction. However few modellers have the expertise or time to build the design, so Vladimir has made it available to all by using state of the art hollow moulded construction techniques. The CAD/CAM molds ensure the finished model has the exact wing and fuselage shape and totally accurate airfoils, and a superb surface finish.
The Supra Competition Pro sports all the design features that Drela’s models are world famous for, including a low pylon mounted wing, Drela designed custom airfoils, and a low drag V mounted tail plane. The upgraded Pro version has a drooped nose to reduce skidding on landing, allowing higher points when competition flying, and thisd latest Competition verson includes built up vertical and horizontal stabisers to reduce weight and intertia.
The glass version of this almost ready to fly glider can be assembled to a weight as low as 1600g, a brilliant figure for a large all molded model. The wing skin is a very rigid and tough glass/rohacell/kevlar sandwich with a substantial T800 carbon spar.
The finessed design and the low weight allow the model to be an outstanding thermal soarer, that is particularly suited to weaker conditions common to the UK.
Advantages of the Supra Pro Competition's Built-Up Tail
1) The weight of the horizontal stabilizer is reduced by 7 grams, eliminating 15 grams of nose ballast.
2) The area of the horizontal stabilizer is increased by 7%, increasing stability, or allowing a more rearward CG, facilitating a further nose weight reduction.
3) Weight of the vertical stabilizer is reduced by 10 grams, eliminating 23 grams of nose ballast.
4) Stiffness and strength of the horizontal stabilizer is increased due to D-box and CF spar from T800 prepreg.
5) Improved accuracy of the tail airfoil due to new CAD/CAM built-up manufacturing process.
6) Reduction of weight at the extremities reduces the moment of inertia, increasing lift indication.
Immediately Apparent Flight Improvements
1) The Supra Competition reacts to the slightest of morning lifts and hot air bubbles.
2) Faster starts due to stiffer CF wing spar from T800 prepreg.
3) Improved control, especially apparent at low landing speed.
4) The Supra Competition reacts quickly to elevator input, if you dork the plane into the landing target.
Supra Competition kit has an assembled fuselage with a demountable vertical stabilizer, for easier transportation. The vertical stabilizer is fixed by a carbon pin. Please fix the pin in place with glued tape before flight.
The model is supplied with wing connection plugs and sockets and wiring harness for connecting up the wing servos.
Read Jo Grini's Supra pages for building tips and flight reports.
Also check out this RCGroups consoilidated list of Supra threads.
Look at Mark Drela's Supra writeup on the Charles River site.
See the HTML Manual on Vladimir's site.
Thanks to Jo Grini and Tuomo for permission to use their excellent photos of their Supra F3J TD Drela designed, R/C thermal soarer gliders.
The Supra Competition Pro sports all the design features that Drela’s models are world famous for, including a low pylon mounted wing, Drela designed custom airfoils, and a low drag V mounted tail plane. The upgraded Pro version has a drooped nose to reduce skidding on landing, allowing higher points when competition flying, and thisd latest Competition verson includes built up vertical and horizontal stabisers to reduce weight and intertia.
The glass version of this almost ready to fly glider can be assembled to a weight as low as 1600g, a brilliant figure for a large all molded model. The wing skin is a very rigid and tough glass/rohacell/kevlar sandwich with a substantial T800 carbon spar.
The finessed design and the low weight allow the model to be an outstanding thermal soarer, that is particularly suited to weaker conditions common to the UK.
Advantages of the Supra Pro Competition's Built-Up Tail
1) The weight of the horizontal stabilizer is reduced by 7 grams, eliminating 15 grams of nose ballast.
2) The area of the horizontal stabilizer is increased by 7%, increasing stability, or allowing a more rearward CG, facilitating a further nose weight reduction.
3) Weight of the vertical stabilizer is reduced by 10 grams, eliminating 23 grams of nose ballast.
4) Stiffness and strength of the horizontal stabilizer is increased due to D-box and CF spar from T800 prepreg.
5) Improved accuracy of the tail airfoil due to new CAD/CAM built-up manufacturing process.
6) Reduction of weight at the extremities reduces the moment of inertia, increasing lift indication.
Immediately Apparent Flight Improvements
1) The Supra Competition reacts to the slightest of morning lifts and hot air bubbles.
2) Faster starts due to stiffer CF wing spar from T800 prepreg.
3) Improved control, especially apparent at low landing speed.
4) The Supra Competition reacts quickly to elevator input, if you dork the plane into the landing target.
Supra Competition kit has an assembled fuselage with a demountable vertical stabilizer, for easier transportation. The vertical stabilizer is fixed by a carbon pin. Please fix the pin in place with glued tape before flight.
The model is supplied with wing connection plugs and sockets and wiring harness for connecting up the wing servos.
| Supra Pro Competition Glass Specification | ||
| Wing span | 3400 mm | 134 in |
| Wing area | 69.3 dm2 | 1052 in2 |
| Length | 1700 mm | 67 in |
| Typical flying weight | 1630 g | 57 oz |
| Wing loading | 24 g/dm2 | 8.0 oz/sq ft |
| Wing airfoil | AG40/AG41/AG42/AG43 | |
| Tailplane airfoil | HT14/HT15 | |
| Fin airfoil | HT13/HT12 | |
| Centre of Gravity | 96-105 mm from wing leading edge | |
| Controls | Elevator, rudder, flaps, ailerons | |
| EDA | 2, 4, or 6 degrees - three sets of joiners supplied | |
| Supra Pro Competition Glass Typical Weights | ||
| Fuse pod | 200 g | 7.2 oz |
| Boom+Pushrods | 71 g | 2.5 oz |
| Centre Sect | 676 g | 23.8 oz |
| Tip Panels | 351 g | 12.4 oz |
| Hoz tail | 26 g | 0.9 oz |
| Vert tail | 32 g | 1.1 oz |
| Accessories | 105 g | 3.7 oz |
| Total structure | 1464 g | 51.6 oz |
| Ballast capability | 900 g | 31.7 oz |
| Recommended Servos | |
| Elevator & rudder | MKS DS6100, MKS DS6125H, Hyperion DS11-AMB |
| Aileron | KST DS135MG, MKS DS6125 Mini, MKS DS6100, Hyperion DS09-AMD |
| Flap | KST DS125MG, KST DS135MG, Hyperion DS095-FMD, DS13-TMB, MKS DS6125 Mini, MKS DS6125 |
| Supra Nomenclature - these are the various terms used to describe the different versions | ||
| Classic | The original fatter pod, with a removable nose cone. | |
| Pro | The new longer, slimmer drooped pod - used on all glider Supras. Now suplied on most electric models. Only very small (Speed 400 size/25mm diameter) geared motors can be fitted. | |
| Competition | The model is fitted with a built-up tailplane (horizontal stabiliser) and rudder. This results in a slight reduction in tail weight, reducing the model's total weight and inertia. | |
| Ulralite | The wing has a reduced strength spar and glass wing skins - lightest, but suitable for low energy electric flight only. | |
| Spread Carbon | The SC (also called ST for Spread Tow) wing has a full strength F3J spar and spread carbon wing skins - very light and very strong. | |
| Glass | The wing has a full strength F3J spar and all glass wing skins - light. | |
| Carbon/Glass | The wing has a full strength F3J spar and carbon skins on the centre panel, and glass wing skins on the tip panel - medium weight. | |
| Carbon | The wing has a full strength F3J spar and all carbon wing skins - heavier, but very strong. | |
Read Jo Grini's Supra pages for building tips and flight reports.
Also check out this RCGroups consoilidated list of Supra threads.
Look at Mark Drela's Supra writeup on the Charles River site.
See the HTML Manual on Vladimir's site.
Thanks to Jo Grini and Tuomo for permission to use their excellent photos of their Supra F3J TD Drela designed, R/C thermal soarer gliders.
Dimensions: 3.4m (134") span
