Octopus G L-13 Blanik User Manual

INDEX

1 HYSTORY
2 CONSTRUCTION
3 DIMENSIONS
4 PERFORMANCE
5 PANELS
6 FLYING
8 PREFLIGHT INSPECTION
9 PRE TAKEOFF CHECK
10 WINCH LAUNCHING
11 AEROTOW LAUNCHING
12 CLIMB
13 FREE FLIGHT
14 APPROACH AND LANDING
15 OFF-FIELD LANDING
16 STALL
17 BASIC AEROBATICS
18 LOOP
19 STALL TURN
20 IMMELMANN
21 SPLIT S
22 INVERSE FLIGHT
23 BARREL ROLL
24 ABOUT

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HISTORY

The L-13 Blanik is a two seater trainer glider produced by Let Kunovice since 1956. It is the
most numerous and widely used glider in the world. In United States Air Force Academy service, it is
designated TG-10C and is used for basic flight training.

The L-13 Blanik was designed by Karel Dlouhy of VZLÚ Letňany ca. 1956, building upon the
experience gained with the Letov XLF-207 Laminar, the first Czech glider to employ laminar flow wing
profiles. The L-13 was developed as a practical glider suitable for basic flight instruction, aerobatic
instruction and cross-country training. This design concept was combined with true and tested
technology: metal construction, NACA laminar profiles and many standard-issue components of the
Soviet aerospace industry.

The Blanik entered production in 1958 and quickly gained popularity as an inexpensive, rugged
and durable type, which was easy to fly and operate. It was widely adopted in the Soviet bloc and was
exported in large numbers to Western Europe and North America. Total production was in excess of
2650, or more than 3000 if variants are included. More than half a century after its first flight it is still the
most common glider in the World.

In the cross-country role the Blanik achieved many two-seater World distance records during
the 1960s in spite of having only fair performance. The Blanik inspired other designs, notably the
Démant and L-21 Spartak single-seaters developed to equip the Czechoslovak team in the 1956 and
1958 World Championships.

CONSTRUCTION

Fuselage of semi-monocoque construction employing longerons and bulkheads, with an ovoid
cross-section. The cockpit is covered with a two-part acrylic glass canopy.

• Trapezoidal single-taper wings with forward (negative) sweep, single-spar, all-metal
construction. Metal ‘torpedo’ tips. Flaps and ailerons have a metal frame and are covered in
fabric. Metal DFS type spoilers on the upper and lower wing surfaces.

• The horizontal tail surfaces fold up parallel to the fin for transportation and storage.

• The elevator and rudder are metal frames covered in fabric. The landing gear is semi-

retractable and sprung with an effective oleo-pneumatic shock absorber, excellent features
which assure landings with little or no damage even if the wheel is left (in error) in the raised
position.

DIMENSIONS

Lenght, m 8,4

Wing span, m 16,2

Wing area, m2 19,5

PERFORMANCE

Vne, kmh: 253

Minimum vertical speed, m/sec: 0,82

Vne (air brakes extended), kmh: 253

Max. tow speed, kmh:

flaps down: 110

flaps up: 140

Max winch launch speed, kmh:

flaps down: 100
flaps up: 120

PANELS

1. ASI

2. Altimeter

3. Magnetic compass

4. VSI (for 5 m/s)

5. Turn coordinator

6. VSI VR-30

7. Trim lever

8. Air brakes lever

9. Flaps lever

10. Gear lever

11. Release handle

12. Ventilation lever

13. Canopy jettison

14. Brake lever

15. Radio bottom

16. Volume regulator

17. Noise switch

18. Frequency selection switch

19. Pedals regulator

20. Frequency selection switch

21. Frequency window

22. Frequency window