Kollman Composites
Pioneer 4
Pioneer 4
Span ...................................................49.2 ft (15m)
Wing Area...........................................137 sq ft
Aspect ratio..........................................18.5
1/4 cord sweep ...................................-3.7 Degrees
Empty weight...................................... 450 lbs
Pilot and equipment.............................260 lbs
Water Ballast .......................................250 lbs
Performance at 685 lbs (5 lb/sqft)
Sink rate..............................................100 fpm @ 48 mph (42 kts)
L/D.......................................................48 @ 72 mph (63 kts)
Cruise..................................................24 @ 130 mph (113 kts)
Automatic control hook ups.
Main wheel and skid/front wheel retracts
The Pioneer 4 is available as a kit or complete aircraft.
The sum of Jim Marske's knowledge and experience was applied to a redesign of Pioneer 3 wing with the goal of maximizing performance. With information gained from flight testing Pioneer 3 Jim was able to apply this to design a low drag airfoil with custom pitch curve.
The Pioneer 4 wing has double taper ratio. This thinner wing has new airfoil to maximize laminar flow. Jim put a lot of work designing the lowest drag airfoil possible. To achieve the required laminar flow the wing surface must be smooth. This ruled out D-tube construction and required all fiberglass wing.
A prototype wing was constructed using a solid foam core covered in fiberglass. The production wing spars and hardware was installed in foam.
Some ask if the airfoil has such a high degree of laminar flow what would happen if the surface was dirty or rough and that laminar flow was compromised. To find out we decide to test fly mid way through the wing contouring.The wings have be leveled with long blocks using 60 grit paper. Then cleaned up with 220 grit for less than ideal surface.
The initial test flying is complete and glider is performing as expected. It is comfortable to fly with very effective spoilers.
Test flights include a 3.5 hour soaring flight. Flights continue to explore flight envelope.
The first Pioneer 4 is midway through completion. Production wings use a fiberglass/ pvc foam/ fiberglass construction.
Assembly of the Pioneer 4 kit is similar to Pioneer 3 kit except the wings come complete. The fuselage has more hardware to install. All hardware is included.
Wing Area...........................................137 sq ft
Aspect ratio..........................................18.5
1/4 cord sweep ...................................-3.7 Degrees
Empty weight...................................... 450 lbs
Pilot and equipment.............................260 lbs
Water Ballast .......................................250 lbs
Performance at 685 lbs (5 lb/sqft)
Sink rate..............................................100 fpm @ 48 mph (42 kts)
L/D.......................................................48 @ 72 mph (63 kts)
Cruise..................................................24 @ 130 mph (113 kts)
Automatic control hook ups.
Main wheel and skid/front wheel retracts
The Pioneer 4 is available as a kit or complete aircraft.
The sum of Jim Marske's knowledge and experience was applied to a redesign of Pioneer 3 wing with the goal of maximizing performance. With information gained from flight testing Pioneer 3 Jim was able to apply this to design a low drag airfoil with custom pitch curve.
The Pioneer 4 wing has double taper ratio. This thinner wing has new airfoil to maximize laminar flow. Jim put a lot of work designing the lowest drag airfoil possible. To achieve the required laminar flow the wing surface must be smooth. This ruled out D-tube construction and required all fiberglass wing.
A prototype wing was constructed using a solid foam core covered in fiberglass. The production wing spars and hardware was installed in foam.
Some ask if the airfoil has such a high degree of laminar flow what would happen if the surface was dirty or rough and that laminar flow was compromised. To find out we decide to test fly mid way through the wing contouring.The wings have be leveled with long blocks using 60 grit paper. Then cleaned up with 220 grit for less than ideal surface.
The initial test flying is complete and glider is performing as expected. It is comfortable to fly with very effective spoilers.
Test flights include a 3.5 hour soaring flight. Flights continue to explore flight envelope.
The first Pioneer 4 is midway through completion. Production wings use a fiberglass/ pvc foam/ fiberglass construction.
Assembly of the Pioneer 4 kit is similar to Pioneer 3 kit except the wings come complete. The fuselage has more hardware to install. All hardware is included.
