Country of origin:

Italy

Description:

Single-seat self-launched glider

Power Plant:

One 21 kw (27 hp) Zanzottera MZ single-cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled engine

Specifications:

• Wingspan: 13 m (42 ft 8 in)
• Length: 6.35 m (20 ft 10 in)
• Height: 1.25 m (4 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 8.9 m² (96 sq ft)
• Max speed: 220 km/h (138 mph)
• Max glide ratio: 40 at 90 km/h (56 mph)
• Empty weight: 130 kg (286 lb)
• Loaded weight: 300 kg (661 lb)

History:

The Silent 2 was one of a series of single-seat sailplanes produced in Italy to meet FAI type DU-Class regulations. It has been produced by Alisport as a ready-to-fly or kit-built glider and has been available as a self-launched glider, being fitted with a two-stroke engine driving a single-blade propeller via a belt drive. It was of carbon and fibreglass composite construction with epoxy resin. The wings had an elliptical planform and had elliptical winglets. Extensive use of carbon fibre was made, both in the sandwich skins and the tapered I-beam wing spar which had pultruded carbon rods for spar caps. Schempp-Hirth type spoilers extended on the upper wing surface. The fixed main wheel of the undercarriage was behind the pilot, with shock absorber and drum brake activated via the spoiler control lever.

The type became available in three basic models, the Silent Club, being a sailplane with a 12 m (39.37 ft) fibreglass wing for recreational flying. The Silent 2 was a high-performance model with carbon fibre wings, an elliptical planform, removable winglets and five flap settings; and the Silent 2 TARGA, a high-performance model for recreational and sport flying with a retractable undercarriage, vertical winglets, a horizontal stabiliser with automatic trim and a 13 m (42.65 ft) wing. One model available had an electric motor to drive the propeller via a direct drive, this model having twelve Lithium batteries weighing 42 kg (93 lb).

One of the first examples seen in Australia was a Silent 2 Targa VH-SIW (c/n 2029) registered to Silent Wings Aviation of Claireville, NSW in late 2008. An example has been registered in New Zealand, this becoming ZK-SWN (c/n 09), and has been based at Whenuapai.