Photograph:
Schempp-Hirth Janus CM ZK-GVX (NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
Germany
Description:
Two-seat self-launch glider
Power Plant:
[CM Model]
One 44 kw (59 hp) Rotax 535C two-cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 20 m (55 ft 7 in)
- Length: 8.62 m (28 ft 3 in)
- Height: 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
- Wing area: 17.3 m² (186 sq ft)
- Never exceed speed: 290 km/h (180 mph)
- Max speed: 205 km/h (155 mph)
- Max glide ratio: 43:1
- Rate of sink: 36 m/min (118 ft/min)
- Empty weight: 365 kg (803 lb)
- Loaded weight: 700 kg (1,540 lb)
History:
Like all gliders produced by Schempp-Hirth GmbH in recent years, the Janus is of fibreglass construction and is of two-seat configuration. Design work by Klaus Holighaus began in 1969 and continued until 1972, the prototype flying for the first time in May 1974. More than 100 examples of a number of variants had been delivered by early 1980, including three models fitted with engines for self-launching. The Janus set a number of records, including a 100 km (62 miles) triangular closed circuit in Switzerland of 142.9 km/h (88.8 mph); women’s goal and return flight of 546 km (339 miles) in Italy in April 1976; and other records over 100 km (62 miles), 300 km (186 miles), and 500 km (312 miles) triangular closed circuits in South Africa in November 1977.
Dual controls are fitted and it is extensively used for training. It is suitable for cross-country instruction as it meets requirements for a high-performance aircraft, complete with flaps and tail brake parachute. A variant was developed in France as the SCAP-Lanaverre SL-2 and was first flown on 15 October 1977. The prototype of the Janus M (D-KIBO) flew on 15 October 1977 with a 41 kw (55 hp) Hirth O-28 engine. A number of self-launched models have been registered in Australia and New Zealand.