le

gnuLAB Paraglider


gnuLAB 
is a basic paraglider of 28 cells, moderate aspect ratio of 4,1, and maximum glide ratio of 6.5:1.
The studied size is the “M” of 70 to 90 kg of gross weight in flight.

Name: gnuLAB
Area 25.75 m2
Total weight range 70-90 kg
Span 10.28 m
Aspect ratio 4.1
Cells number 28
Closed cells 4
Aifoil tickness 14%
Max glide estimation 6.5:1
Homologation none

The planes for its free study and construction are attached here:

-  format PDF  gnuLAB-20070815.pdf   PDF
-  format CAD gnuLAB-20070815.zip    CAD  (includes the full 3D model of the paraglider )

Because it is an experimental prototype not homologated and never to have flown no model until now (15 of August 2007), I cannot assure nor guarantee nothing. I cannot either guarantee that the geometric model is correct (the subroutine of flat development of the panels will work correctly?). I believe that it will fly as planned, but surely will be necessary to correct experimentally some small of the trim and the angle of incidence of the tips of the wing. The improvements introduced on the first prototype will be incorporated to the following planes.

I have taken 6 months, working in free short whiles, until obtaining the project. The used tools have been the program XFOIL for the study of the profiles, a program of CAD in 3D to draw the model, and several subroutines of calculation and drawing written in language Fortran 77 and compiled with g77 in an operating system Kanotix GNU/Linux. The process has been the following one:
License: The planes are under license type GNU General Public Licence 2.0 employee in free software  http://www.gnu.org . With this type of license, anyone is free to copy the code (=planes), to study it, to modify it, and to distribute it, with the only condition for maintaining the license GPL, for putting in public domain the introduced modifications, and for naming the authors of each version.

vista1
Fig 1. Model 3D

vista2
Fig 2. Detail model 3D. Very basic model, but with tecnology of internal load straps (in grey).

vista3
Fig 3. Upper view

vista4
Fig 4. Lateral view

The 32 planes in format .png:


01. Index and
general data

02. Plant

03. Front view

04-01. Profiles

04-02

04-03

04-04

04-05

04-06

04-07

04-08

05-01. Panels

05-02

05-03

05-04

05-05

05-06

05-07

05-08

05-09

05-10

05-11

05-12

05-13

05-14

05-15

05-16

05-17

06-01. Mylars
reinforcements
in leading edge

06-02. Internal
load straps

07. Lines

08. Model 3D



gnuLAB it is a simple project…, but it is the research laboratory for other wings that are to come:
speedLAB (speed flying) and the hiLAB (high aspect ratio)

Important note, August 26 of 2007: I have detected, already in drawing-board stage, that the ends of the wing possibly are with little angle of incidence. In order to correct it would be necessary to trim lines CU3 in 2 cm, and lines DU3 in 3 cm. If you want to construct the wing, you can consult to me by email as they are the last adjustments.


                                                                                   index laboratori d'envol