Aeros Combat

Ukrainian hang glider

Combat
Role	Hang glider Type of aircraft
National origin	Ukraine
Manufacturer	Aeros
Introduction	2000
Status	In production

The Aeros Combat is a family of Ukrainian high-wing, single-place, hang gliders, designed and produced by Aeros of Kyiv and introduced in 2000.^[1]^[2]

Design and development

The Combat series was conceived as a single-place competition hang glider and as such has gone through successive updates to keep it competitive.^[1]^[2]

Typical of the line, the Combat 2 13 model is made from aluminium tubing, with the wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 10.35 m (34.0 ft) span wing is cable braced, but without a kingpost and upper rigging. The nose angle is 131° and the aspect ratio is 7.95:1.^[1]

The wing is also used on the Aeros ANT nanotrike, as well as the Flylight Libelle and Flylight Motorfloater, British ultralight trikes, in its Combat T configuration.^[3]^[4]

Operational history

In 2005 Oleg Bodnarchuk was the Hang Gliding World Champion, flying a Combat L.^[1]^[2]

Variants

Combat: Initial model introduced in 2000.^[2]
Combat 2 13: Improved model introduced in 2001, with wing span of 10.35 m (34.0 ft), area of 13.5 m² (145 sq ft) and aspect ratio of 7.95:1, with a pilot hook-in weight range of 65 to 90 kg (143 to 198 lb).^[1]^[2]
Combat 2 14: Model with wing span of 10.7 m (35.1 ft), area of 14.2 m² (153 sq ft) and aspect ratio of 8.05:1, with a pilot hook-in weight range of 75 to 105 kg (165 to 231 lb). German DHV 3 certified.^[1]
Combat 2 15: Model with wing span of 10.7 m (35.1 ft), area of 14.8 m² (159 sq ft) and aspect ratio of 7.85:1, with a pilot hook-in weight range of 80 to 110 kg (176 to 243 lb).^[1]
Combat L: Improved model introduced in 2003, with lower weight and higher performance.^[2]
Combat L 2006: Improved model introduced in 2006, with higher performance.^[2]
Combat L 12: Improved model introduced in 2006 for lighter pilots, with higher performance.^[2]
Combat L 07 12: Improved model introduced in 2007 with an oval crossbeam, stiffer sprogs and sail design, smaller wing area.^[2]
Combat L 07 13: Improved model introduced in 2007 with an oval crossbeam, stiffer sprogs and sail design, mid wing area.^[2]
Combat L 07 14: Improved model introduced in 2007 with an oval crossbeam, stiffer sprogs and sail design, larger wing area.^[2]
Combat 09 13: Re-designed glider with new sail shape, batten profiles, stiffer leading edge and a stiffer and lighter keel. Wing area of 13.7 m² (147 sq ft)^[5]
Combat 09 13.2: Re-designed glider with new sail shape, batten profiles, stiffer leading edge and a stiffer and lighter keel. Wing area of 13.2 m² (142 sq ft)^[5]
Combat 09 13.5 GT: Version of the Combat 09 with greater aspect ratio of 8.5:1. Wing span of 10.7 m (35.1 ft) and wing area of 13.5 m² (145 sq ft) and a horizontal tailplane mounted to the keel.^[6]

Specifications (Combat 2 15)

Data from Bertrand^[1]

General characteristics

Crew: one
Wingspan: 10.7 m (35 ft 1 in)
Wing area: 14.8 m² (159 sq ft)
Aspect ratio: 7.85:1

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 41. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Aeros (2008). "Chronicles of AEROS Company". Retrieved 2 February 2012.
^ Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 212. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
^ Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 215. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
^ ^a ^b Aeros (2010). "Combat 09". Retrieved 2 February 2012.
^ Aeros (2010). "Combat 09 13.6 GT". Retrieved 2 February 2012.