Prue 215

215
Role Glider
National origin United States
Designer Irving Prue
Introduction 1949
Number built 3

The Prue 215 is an American high-wing, V-tailed, single-seat glider that was designed by Irving Prue in 1949.[1][2]

Design and development

The Prue 215 is an all-metal design with a short 40 ft (12.2 m) wing with a relatively high aspect ratio of 20:1. The wing uses a NACA 23012 airfoil at the wing root, becoming a NACA 8318 at the wing tip. Airfoil-shaped flaps are mounted below and behind the wing for glidepath control. The aircraft uses a retractable monowheel landing gear.[1][2][3]

Three Prue 215s were built, all as amateur-builts from plans. The initial one was Prue's prototype. The second one was built by Ed Minghelli and later owned by Max Dreher, who mounted a jet engine on it. The second and third built are designated 215A.[2][4][5]

Operational history

The second Prue 215 built was flown to second place in the 1958 US Nationals by Harold Hutchinson.[1][2]

Only one Prue 215 remains listed on the Federal Aviation Administration registry.[4]

Variants

215
The first aircraft constructed was designated as a Prue 215.[2]
215A
The second and third aircraft constructed were given the designation Prue 215A.[4][5]
Brown Rebel
Prue 215 fuselage mated to wings from the Lyle Maxey Jennie Mae

Aircraft on display

Specifications (215)

Data from Sailplane Directory and Soaring[1][2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 40 ft (12 m)
  • Wing area: 90 sq ft (8.4 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 20:1
  • Airfoil: Root: NACA 23012, tip: NACA 8318
  • Empty weight: 340 lb (154 kg)
  • Gross weight: 540 lb (245 kg)

Performance

  • Maximum glide ratio: 29:1 at 52 mph (84 km/h)
  • Rate of sink: 156 ft/min (0.79 m/s) at 40 mph (64 km/h)
  • Wing loading: 6.0 lb/sq ft (29 kg/m2)

See also

Related lists

References

  1. ^ a b c d Activate Media (2006). "215 Prue". Archived from the original on August 19, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Said, Bob: 1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, page 54, Soaring Society of America November 1983. USPS 499-920
  3. ^ Lednicer, David (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". Archived from the original on April 20, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c Federal Aviation Administration (June 2011). "Make / Model Inquiry Results N90612". Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  5. ^ a b Federal Aviation Administration (June 2011). "Make / Model Inquiry Results N454Y". Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  6. ^ National Soaring Museum (2011). "Sailplanes in Our Collection". Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2011.