Eta Aircraft eta
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| Type designation | eta |
| Competition class | Open |
| Crew | 2 |
| Length | 9.84 m |
| Height | m |
| Cockpit width | m |
| Cockpit height | m |
| Wingspan | 30.9 m |
| Wing area | 18.6 m² |
| Aspect ratio | 51.3 |
| Empty mass | 600 kg |
| Water ballast | kg |
| Tail water ballast | kg |
| Maximum mass | 850 kg |
| Wing loading | 45.6 kg/m² (15 m) |
| Maximum speed | 280 km/h |
| Maneuver speed | km/h |
| Speed in strong turbulence | km/h |
| Minimum sink rate | ca. m/s unballasted |
| Best glide ratio | ca. 72 |
| Engine type | Solo 2625 |
| Power | 47 kW |
The eta is a German Open Class two-seater flapped self-launching glider manufactured by ETA Aircraft. It is the highest performing glider in existence.[citation needed]
On July 31, 2000 at 13:19 (in Cochstedt, Germany) the Eta made its first flight making 2 meters of height, the second flight was the first aerotow take off flight to reach 1500 metres was at 13:58. The third flight was self powered and had no problems. The official presentation was on August 1.
Three Etas have been manufactured to date. The second prototype was extensively damaged in 2003 during the spin tests required for the type certification. Both pilots parachuted to safety. The prototype was repaired and the tests completed successfully.
The glider will be produced by hand in a small series, at a rate of about three per year.
Eta is an example of a current trend in glider development in which private pilots initiate the development of new open class gliders. Currently, the private development of the Concordia sailplane promises a further elevation of lift-drag (l/D) ratio of several points.
[edit] Performance
Eta participated in a World Championship for the first time in 2003 at Leszno. The pilot Janusz Centka was able to win five days and achieved an overall second place. Good placings have also been achieved by eta in later competitions. The glider is however hampered by the current weight limitation in the Open Class, which does not allow it to fly with a sufficiently high wingloading in strong weather, to the advantage of its opponents.
