Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross: Difference between revisions
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The '''Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross''' is an [[United States|American]] [[high-wing]], [[strut-braced]], open cockpit, pod-and-boom [[Glider (sailplane)|glider]] that was designed by [[Hawley Bowlus]] and introduced in 1938.<ref name="SD">{{Cite web|url |
The '''Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross''' is an [[United States|American]] [[high-wing]], [[strut-braced]], open cockpit, pod-and-boom [[Glider (sailplane)|glider]] that was designed by [[Hawley Bowlus]] and introduced in 1938.<ref name="SD">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?PlaneID=36 |title=Baby Albatross BA-100 Bowlus |accessdate=26 February 2011 |last=Activate Media |authorlink= |year=2006 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715224556/http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?PlaneID=36 |archivedate=15 July 2011 |df= }}</ref><ref name="SoaringNov83">Said, Bob: ''1983 Sailplane Directory, [[Soaring Magazine]]'', pages 6-7. Soaring Society of America, November 1983. USPS 499-920</ref> |
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==Design and development== |
==Design and development== |
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==Aircraft on display== |
==Aircraft on display== |
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[[File:Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross.jpg|thumb|right|Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross on display at the [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]].]] |
[[File:Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross.jpg|thumb|right|Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross on display at the [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]].]] |
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*[[National Soaring Museum]] - BA-100 Baby Albatross and BA-102 two-place Baby Albatross (N33630) <ref name="NSMCollection">{{cite web|url |
*[[National Soaring Museum]] - BA-100 Baby Albatross and BA-102 two-place Baby Albatross (N33630) <ref name="NSMCollection">{{cite web|url=http://www.soaringmuseum.org/collection.html |title=Sailplanes in Our Collection |accessdate=26 February 2011 |last=[[National Soaring Museum]] |authorlink= |year=2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516142717/http://www.soaringmuseum.org/collection.html |archivedate=16 May 2011 |df= }}</ref> |
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*[[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]] - BA-100 Baby Albatross (NX18979) is on display at this annex of the [[National Air and Space Museum]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Collections - Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross|url=http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19630397000|accessdate=26 September 2011}}</ref> |
*[[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]] - BA-100 Baby Albatross (NX18979) is on display at this annex of the [[National Air and Space Museum]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Collections - Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross|url=http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19630397000|accessdate=26 September 2011}}</ref> |
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*The Seattle [[Museum of Flight]] - BA-100 Baby Albatross currently in restoration at Paine Field.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museumofflight.org/aircraft/bowlus-hawley-ba-100-baby-albatross|title=Bowlus (Hawley) BA-100 Baby Albatross - The Museum of Flight|work=museumofflight.org|accessdate=17 November 2015}}</ref> |
*The Seattle [[Museum of Flight]] - BA-100 Baby Albatross currently in restoration at Paine Field.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museumofflight.org/aircraft/bowlus-hawley-ba-100-baby-albatross|title=Bowlus (Hawley) BA-100 Baby Albatross - The Museum of Flight|work=museumofflight.org|accessdate=17 November 2015}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 20:05, 6 November 2016
| BA-100 Baby Albatross | |
|---|---|
| |
| A Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross in flight. | |
| Role | Glider |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Hawley Bowlus |
| Designer | Hawley Bowlus |
| First flight | 1937 |
| Introduction | 1938 |
| Produced | 1938-1944 |
| Number built | 156 kits were sold |
The Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross is an American high-wing, strut-braced, open cockpit, pod-and-boom glider that was designed by Hawley Bowlus and introduced in 1938.[1][2]
Design and development
Bowlus designed the Baby Albatross as an inexpensive glider during the Great Depression. The aircraft initially sold for US$750 ready-to-fly, and US$385 as a kit for amateur construction. Initially produced as a kit by Bowlus, the rights to the design were purchased in 1944 by Laister-Kauffmann, although that company went out of business before commencing production.[1][2]
The BA-100 is of mixed construction. The wings and tail surfaces are of wooden structure, covered in aircraft fabric. The tailboom is made from a metal tube and the cockpit pod is of molded plywood. The aircraft features no glide-path control devices, although some were later modified with spoilers. The airfoil is a modified Gö 535 section.[1][2]
The production of the BA-100 totaled 156 kits delivered.[1][2]
Operational history
Many well known soaring pilots owned and flew the BA-100 as their first aircraft. These include Dick Johnson, Richard Schreder and Joe Lincoln. Despite its modest performance the BA-100 has been flown on many flights of over 250 mi (402 km).[1][2]
One BA-100 was modified by Schweizer Aircraft, replacing the plywood cockpit pod with a steel tube one.[1][2]
The aircraft were known for their poor pitch handling characteristics. The famous aerodynamicist Irv Culver told Albatross owner Jeff Byard that the problem came from three sources. First, the rotation axis of the all flying horizontal tail was located at 35% chord instead of slightly in front of the aerodynamic center at 25% chord. Second, the horizontal tail rotation hinge had high friction. Third, the relatively soft pitch axis cable control system stored elastic energy reacting the friction in the tail hinge. As the pilot tried to input pitch controls into the unstable tail, the friction of the tailplane hinge prevented initial movement which then stored up energy in the control cables. The pilot then applied more force to get the desired reaction. Eventually, the high friction would break loose and the horizontal tail would move much farther than desired due to the higher than necessary force applied by the pilot and releasing the force in the control cables. The resulting over control often resulting in PIO and when near the ground would likely damage the aircraft. Culver instructed the owner to move the hinge axis forward to 24.5%, add a downspring to the pitch control, and liberally lubricate the hinge axis before each flight to reduce friction. According to Byard, the plane flies significantly better with the improvements.[3]
As of September 2013 there were still 12 Baby Albatross on the US Federal Aviation Administration civil aircraft register.[4]
Variants
- BA-100 Baby Albatross
- Original single-seat version, type certified.[1][2]
- BA-102 Two-Place Baby Albatross
- Two-seat version with extended rear fuselage by 2 ft (0.6 m) to accommodate a passenger, with two small portal-type windows. The first one was constructed by Bowlus and Don Mitchell in the winter of 1938. Three were built and registered as experimental aircraft.[1][2]
Aircraft on display
- National Soaring Museum - BA-100 Baby Albatross and BA-102 two-place Baby Albatross (N33630) [5]
- Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center - BA-100 Baby Albatross (NX18979) is on display at this annex of the National Air and Space Museum[6]
- The Seattle Museum of Flight - BA-100 Baby Albatross currently in restoration at Paine Field.[7]
- Port Townsend Aero Museum - BA-100 Baby Albatross (NC17864).[8]
- San Diego Air and Space Museum - BA-100 Baby Albatross.[9]
- Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum - BA-100 Baby Albatross undergoing restoration.[10]
- Wings of History Air Museum - BA-100 Baby Albatross.[11]
Specifications (BA-100)
Data from Sailplane Directory and Soaring Magazine[1][2]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Wingspan: 44 ft 6 in (13.56 m)
- Wing area: 150 sq ft (14 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 13.2
- Airfoil: modified Gö 535
- Empty weight: 300 lb (136 kg)
- Gross weight: 505 lb (229 kg)
Performance
- Maximum glide ratio: 20:1
- Rate of sink: 135 ft/min (0.69 m/s)
- Wing loading: 3.3 lb/sq ft (16 kg/m2)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Activate Media (2006). "Baby Albatross BA-100 Bowlus". Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i Said, Bob: 1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, pages 6-7. Soaring Society of America, November 1983. USPS 499-920
- ^ Comments on Flying the Baby Albatross at the 2013 ESA Workshop. Tehachapi, CA. 30 August 2013.
- ^ Federal Aviation Administration (2 September 2013). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ National Soaring Museum (2011). "Sailplanes in Our Collection". Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Collections - Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross". Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ^ "Bowlus (Hawley) BA-100 Baby Albatross - The Museum of Flight". museumofflight.org. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
- ^ "Bowlus "Baby Albatross" – Port Townsend Aero Museum". ptaeromuseum.com. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
- ^ San Diego Air & Space Museum. "San Diego Air & Space Museum - Balboa Park, San Diego". sandiegoairandspace.org. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
- ^ "Airplanes - Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum". waaamuseum.org. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
- ^ Wings of History Air Museum. "Wings of History Air Museum". wingsofhistory.org. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
External links
