HUNGARIAN GLIDERS
1933-2000
Type designation: R-08b
Name: B-Pilis
Designer: Ernő RUBIK
Class: Training
General arrangement: High, strutted wing, open canopy, traditional tail unit
Crew: 1
First flight: 1939
Manufacturer: Aero Ever Kft., Esztergom
Number of built: 5



Short history:
One example of Wolf Hirth's Wolf had arrived to Hungary in 1937 and became very popular among glider pilots. Ernő Rubik designed a new glider, the Pilis, to meet the demand for such kind of gliders. The new design was based on the line of Szittya gliders but with reduced dimensions. The first version, which later got the type designation of R-08a, had first flown on March 19, 1939. New versions followed and this type was one of the gliders built in greatest number in Hungary.

Instead of version R-08a "curved" fuselage this version got a straight-line outlined fuselage eliminating the disadvantage observed during flaring. The gull wing form of the previous version was retained. The first example of this version flew in 1939. 5 examples were built. The type was authorized for bungee-cord, aerotow and winch launching, cloud flying and basic aerobatics.



Structure:  All wooden
   Wing:
The one spar, streamlined steel tube strutted wing had a plywood covered torsion resistant box structure in front of the main spar. The ribs had flat lattice frame structures. No airbrakes were fitted on these version.
   Fuselage:
The fuselage was a semi-monocoque structure strengthened with ribs and longerons. This version got removable open canopy fitted with simple windshield. The landing gear consisted of a main and a small aft skid both rubber dumped.
   Tail unit:
The tail unit had traditional arrangement and a structure similar to the wing.

Larger picture | Larger picture

Dimensions:
   Wing:
     Span, m: 13,6
     Area, m2: 15,7
     Aspect ratio: 11,78
     Chord (root), m: 1,2
     Chord (tip), m: 0,75
     Airfoil (root), m: Gö 533
     Airfoil (mid-span), m: W-339
     Airfoil (tip), m: W-229
     Dihedral, degree: Outer panels: 0
     Sweep, degree: 0
     Washout: Aerodynamic and -3° geometric
   Aileron:
     Span, m: 3,75
     Mean chord, m: 0,264
     Total area, m2: 2,82
     Balancing: None
   Horizontal stabilizer:
     Span, m: 3
     Area, m2: 2,26
   Elevator:
     Span, m: 3
     Area, m2: 1,54
     Airfoil: Symmetrical
     Balancing: None
     Trim: Yes
   Vertical stabilizer and rudder:
     Total area, m2: 1,18
     Rudder area, m2: 0,93
     Balancing: Aerodynamic
   Fuselage:
     Length, m: 6,64
     Width, m: ?
     Height: ?
     Cross section, m2: ?
   Landing gear:
     Type: Skid
Masses:
   Wing, kg: ?
   Fuselage, kg: ?
   Tail unit, kg: ?
   Empty glider, kg: 150
   Gross, kg: 250
   Ballast, kg: None
   Wing loading, kg/m2: 15,9
Speeds:
   VNE, km/h: 160
   Max. aerotow speed, km/h: 160
   Max. winch speed, km/h: 70
   Max. speed in rough air, km/h: ?
   Stall speed, km/h: ?
Performance:
   Min. sink, m/s (at gliding speed, km/h): 1,0/?
   Best L/D (at gliding speed, km/h): 17/?
Start methods: Bungee, Winch, Aerotow



Origin of data and 3-view drawing:
Jereb Gábor: Magyar vitorlázó repülőgépek, Műszaki Könyvkiadó, 1988, Budapest
(Gábor JEREB: Hungarian Gliders, Technical Publishing House, 1988, Budapest)

Gábor FEKECS E-mail: fekecs.gabor@t-online.hu