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SZD 56 Diana
Type designation | SZD-56 Diana |
Competition Class | 15 Meter |
Crew | 1 |
Length | 6.88 m |
Height | 1.35 m |
Wingspan | 15 m |
Wing area | 8.64 m² |
Aspect ratio | 26.04 |
Empty mass | ca. 182 kg |
Water ballast | 240 kg |
Maximum mass | 500 kg |
Wing loading | ca. 28 – 58 kg/m² |
Maximum speed | 270 km/h |
Stall speed | 60 km/h |
Minimum sink rate | ca. 0.45 m/s |
Best glide ratio | approx. 50:1 |
The SZD-56 Diana is a 15 metre class glider originally designed by Bogumil Beres at PZL-Bielsko. However PZL Bielsko went bankrupt before it could be put into production. The rights to the design were taken over by a new entity, Diana Sailplanes, which developed the design further and called it the Diana 2. This glider first flew on 12 January 2005.
At 2006 World Gliding Championships in Eskilstuna, Sweden Janusz Centka flew a Diana 2 and won the 15 metre class.
The Diana 2 features a number of structural innovations, including a spar-less wing. It also has an unusual side-stick control system to accommodate the pilot in its unusually narrow cockpit. It has the highest maximum wing loading of any 15 metre competition sailplane.