Full Scale Wind Tunnel Tests on Hang Glider Pilots

摘要

The weight shift control of hang gliders and the position of the pilot makes the aerodynamic characteristics of hang glider pilots an integral part of hang glider stability and performance calculations. Full scale mobile facilities were developed to measure the characteristics of the wings but very little information is available about the pilot. A series of full scale wind tunnel measurements were carried out to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of hang glider pilots. Five pilots were tested over a range of positions and wind speeds with various types of pilots harnesses. The results are strongly dependent on each pilot and the flying position he adopts. A range of pilot drag figures should be used in stability calculations rather than just one mean value.