New glider
deliveries
304C "FL"
I just picked up the glider a few hours
ago after clearing customs, at the docks in Boston.
It is PERFECT - the finish is outstanding, and Eric and I
are SOOO excited about flying it in a few weeks.
I did not pull the glider out but Eric and I will take a closer look at
it in a few days when we can arrange some time to go over it carefully, install
instruments and in general get it ready for our FAA certification person.
But, the trailer is wonderful and the glider is outstanding! I can't believe
the finish - it is also PERFECT! Everything arrived with no scratches,
problems or anything else to worry about. I'll send some pics when I get it out
of the trailer.
THANKS!
Fred Looft
at the port
Fred Looft
SMILING ALL THE WAY - FIRST FLIGHT.
The only problem? Well, in spite of what the weather was forecast to be
,.... thermals? What thermals? Bumpy yes, thermals that could be worked,
no way! 16 minutes later after doing a low approach because I had not
realized HOW effective the dive brakes were I was on the ground thinking
about all the commnets on the web about whimpy wheel brakes - they worked
just fine, takes a lot of leg force but worked fine.
For a 16 minute flight, it was great - everything worked well, it flew
beautifully, and will be a delight to have/own/fly. Eric is flying it
now (i put it together and flew it, he then flies it and takes it apart).
Can't wait to get a SERIOUS flight in. My biggest mistake today?
probably flying too fast in thermals (need to get the hang of it and fly
in the high 40's, not high 50's).
WONDERUL and roomy and comfortable and excellent
visibility and quite and
WONDERFUL 304C Tim!
Ok, so I only had a 16 minute "down in flames"
flight - Eric took FL up a bit later in the day and in spite of the 9-12 Kts
winds predicted by the weather folks, he got wave up to about 8k around here
(wave? in 9-12 kt winds? I think the winds were MUCH higher than 9-12 kts - in
fact they were very brisk!)
He and a friend in a Dg303 acro managed to
fly side by side for some distance a couple of times.
IN the past, when we had our Dg300, we would
always be a bit lower and slower. In the 304,
Eric said he was VERY CLEARLY higher and faster. Great!
Eric Frere
When FL was checked for airworthiness last week, the guy who did it was up
for his annual FAA certification renewal. He called me the day before he
certified our ship and said "Fred, the FAA is coming out to re-certify me and
they told me we were going to use YOUR ship - hope you don't mind, but they are
VERY picky and while I think everything is in order, it will be a half-day
process and they will go over it with a fine toothed comb!". Of course, that
really put me at ease (NOT!). Well, they went over it and the most interesting
comment was that the FAA guys refused to believe that it was a gelcoat finish.
"NO ONE makes a finish that nice - it has to be
paint!" Even Pete (my inspector guy) said he had his doubts but knew that it
was gel coat - incredible finish!
Final fitting
Complete and ready
Instrument panels are cut and assembled to the customers
specifications, Wiring, plumbing and every detail is completed so there is no
"home-building" once it arrive to the new owners as is typical with most new
sailplane deliveries.
Avionic Trailer was the
choice of the new owners of "FL" as many new owners have discovered this really
excellent design. HpH Sailplanes are delivered in Cobra, Komet trailers as well
as the customers may choose.
"BB"
I picked up my aircraft from Galveston on
Tuesday. Everything came over very very well.
Thank you.
My plane now lives at Caddo Mills, TX and is awaiting the instrument
installation.
All I can say is, the finish, color and workmanship... extrodinary! I
can't wait to fly it. Now I have to wait for the FAA.
Britton 304C
1st HpH 304 sailplanes delivered to Australia
The quality is obvious!
ready for shipment, 2 new
304C sailplanes for Australia
and one 304C ready for delivery to the USA!
Hello Jaroslav
I have just returned from our Easter Competitions at Dalby in Queensland. We
took both hph 304c’s to these competitions and the response was very good. At
the competitions Andrew Georgensen and Tom Claffey who are both members of the
Australian team for the next World Championships flew the 304c’s as part of the
Easter competition. They are preparing a written report for me to publish.
Andrew placed 8th on the day but was hindered by the failure of the Cambridge
302 (no electronic vario) and an embarrassing re-launch for a toilet stop. He
was very impressed with all facets of the aircraft. Andrew is a big man and some
tail weight would have been his only request to move the cofg slightly back.
Andrew flew 369km at 112kph!
By the trace Tom was actually winning the final day of the
competition flying ZAI in partnership with his own Discus. The day was very
“blue” with no cloud and a weather system which collapsed 30 km from home after
a 270km flight in 150 minutes. Both Tom and the Discus outlanded 30 km from the
finish line very disappointed. Tom was sceptical of the 304c’s performance
before he left – but not any more!!
These comps are done as AAT’s and on handicap. There were 61
gliders flying on Andrew’s day and 51 with Tom. There was everything from 4DM’s
down to Standard Libelle’s. On Andrew’s day he beat every LS8 (of which he owns
one - GAG) and was only beaten by Open Class gliders.
I only got 1 flight in ZAI!! But I achieved a personal best and was happy to
make it home.
Regards
Rob Izatt
HPH Australia
Glasflugel 304C
Richard
Johnson Flight test of the 304C
and Pilots impressions by Dean Carswell.
click on image above or this link to view
Col. Ray Kleber's 304C Ser#46 304C in flight over Goldsboro, NC
For more owners comments and images go to
304 Owners page
Glasflugel 304C
Details
"Click" on thumbnail images below to view in greater detail
Cockpit with standard trim
Can it really get any better than this?
Kevlar safety cockpit seat assembly is shown as well as unique Parallelogram control
column
and superb fingertip trim system developed by Glasflugel.
The Glasflugel 304 cockpit is among the roomiest available and maximum cockpit weight can
allow up to 110kg (242 pounds).*
Wing assembly tool is used to simply pull wings together with less strain.
* (maximum cockpit load can be affected by optional equipment. A complete weight and
balance must be completed to insure sailplane is within possible limits)
image above shows "Optional" (no extra cost) small panel for large pilots.
This smaller instrument panel still allows ample room for most modern competition
instruments and avionics. Instrument panel and controls.
The Glasflugel 304 was the first sailplane design to offer the instrument panel hinged
forward as part
of the canopy lifting mechanism to allow simple entry and egress and has since been copied
like many Glasflugel innovations by several other manufacturers.
image shows standard panel with dashed lines outlining the "Optional" panel
Optionally a special slightly smaller Instrument panel can be ordered for larger pilots
with higher
cutouts over the pilots legs.
In-Flight adjustable rudder pedals for comfort and control.
Optional trim weights to suit a wide range of pilot weights.
Heal brakes allow greater leverage for far more controlled braking than with simple
squeeze handles
and provide tire skidding power even with standard mechanical TOST 5" wheel.
A Hydraulic Disc Brake is also an optional extra.
wing tip wheels reduce damage and make ground handling simple
Also available are wing tips skids as an option
Sturdy landing gear with a larger 500x5 TOST wheel
Automatic control hook-ups developed by Glasflugel and copied by most major producers
today
mean so safety pins to install, no possibility of misconnection of the controls
and far less assembly time.
Extra large double panel Spoilers for glide path control
New winglet design developed especially for the NEW Glasflugel 304C.
Winglets can be installed in seconds with a single simple screw fitting.
Glasflugel 304C is now prepared for
production by HPH Ltd.
TECHNICAL DATA
Wings
Span 15,00 m
Wing area 9,90 m2
Aspect ratio 22,80
Wing airfoil HQ 014-1642
Fuselage
Length 6,45 m
Height 1,36 m
Weight
Empty weight 235 kg
Max. take off weight 450 kg
Water ballast capacity 115 l
Min. wingloading 30,80 kg/m2
Max. wingloading 45,45 kg/m2
Performance
Best gliding ratio (expected , not measured yet )
at 450 kg and 116 km/h L/D 42,5
Minimum sink rate
at 305 kg and 77 km/h 0,57 m/s
Speeds
Minimum speed
at 305 kg 60 km/h
at 450 kg 73 km/h
Maximum speed 250 km/h
Note: this data is not binding, for information
304C Base price
EU38,525.00
(for 304C
Options price list please follow this link)
available
304C options price list
*Prices are FOB Czech Factory
All Shipping, optional equipment, accessories and taxes are additional.
delivery positions are available
Cobra and Komet
Trailers are available
with your new 304CZ or 304C Sailplane through W&W.
Cobra
Trailer
Producer:
HPH Ltd.
Caslavska 126
P.O. Box 112
CZ-28401 Kutna Hora
Czech Republic
USA Representative:
WINGS AND WHEELS Soaring Supplies
2049 Shadyside Road
Lakewood, NY 14750
Telephone (716)763-3213 Fax (716)763-3214
NEW 304S and 304SE Sailplanes coming in 2004
more 304CZ data
back to previous Glasflugel 304CZ Page
Glasflugel 304CZ owners comments and flight tests
back to catalog index
email: tim@wingsandwheels.com
