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Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus
 | |
| Type designation | Duo Discus |
| Competition class | Two Seater |
| Number built | 400 + |
| Crew | 2 |
| Length | 8.62 m |
| Height | ca. 1.6 m |
| Cockpit width | 0.71 m |
| Cockpit height | 1.02 m |
| Wingspan | 20 m |
| Wing area | 16.4 m² |
| Aspect ratio | 24.4 |
| Wing profile | HQ-31 A/XX |
| Empty mass | ca. 410 kg ca. 420 kg (Duo Discus x) |
| Water ballast | 200 kg |
| Tail ballast | Optional |
| Maximum mass | 700 kg 750 kg (Duo Discus x) |
| Wing loading | ca. 29.3 – 42.7 kg/m² ca. 30 – 45.7 kg/m² (Duo Discus x) |
| Maximum speed | 250 km/h 275 km/h (Duo Discus x) |
| Rough air speed | 180 km/h |
| Minimum sink | ca. 0.58 m/s at 85 km/h |
| Best glide ratio | 45 46.5 (Duo Discus x) |
| Empty mass | ca. 445 kg |
| Engine type | Solo 2-stroke 2-cylinder |
| Engine power | 22 kW |
| Climb rate in powered flight |
|
| Range in 'saw-tooth' operation |
200 km |
The Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus is a high performance two seat glider primarily designed for fast cross-country flying including gliding competitions. It is often used for advanced training.
The Duo Discus replaced the Janus as Schempp Hirth's high performance two seater trainer. Although it shares its name with the highly successful Standard Class Discus, any resemblance is only superficial. It first flew in 1993 and is still in production at the factory in Orlican in the Czech Republic. It has a 20 metre four piece wing that is slightly swept forward so that the rear pilot is close to the centre of gravity. Its best glide ratio was measured as 44:1. An optional 'turbo' engine can be specified. Landing flaps were announced in 2005 to improve its approach control. Over 400 had been built by mid-2005. Its chief rival is now the DG Flugzeugbau DG-1000.
A Duo Discus was used in the 1999 film The Thomas Crown Affair. This film shows the rear pilot reaching to front controls. This is normally physically impossible in any tandem two-seater. For the film the rear instrument panel was removed to allow the actor to take this bit of artistic license while on the ground. Undoing the seat straps in flight to allow the rear pilot to lean forward would also be hazardous, as unbelted pilots have been ejected by turbulence through canopies.
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