Updated: Mar 13, 2020
After the Piuma flex-wing last month, we continue our
tour of financially accessible ultra lights.
Here is the Zigolo built by Aviad … An appealing bird
The ground temperature is 26°C and the takeoff weight
192 kg. Our test machine has an empty weight of only
just 105 kg. Wing loading is therefore low at an
interesting 12.15 kg per square meter. Taxiing does not
require special skills just a bit of practice. All the same,
the Zigolo is centered slightly to the rear when on the
ground and it takes a bit of speed and power to lift the
tail. With no headwind and without pushing it, takeoff
happens after a 60m roll with climb rate of 1.7m/s.
Engine (propeller) torque is virtually nonexistent. The
initial climb at 55km/h is uneventful. Level flight is
significantly improved with this new wooden GT
propeller. The original prop was used by motorized
Para gliders and its pitch was unsuitable for the flight
envelope of the Zigolo. The cruise speed has changed
significantly with this version The general stability of the
microlight is positive with a phugoid period of 20
seconds and 2.5 cycles. Yaw stability has been
improved, but although the new springs are already
doing their job, this axis still needs to be fine-tuned.
In a roll, the ailerons with their new Teleflex commands
have gained in efficiency and accuracy. Although the
stall occurs without real warning signs at about
45 km/h, its gentleness is only equaled by the ease of
recovery. At 50 km / h, the Zigolo always has full
authority in flight with controls maintaining efficiency
and retaining good defensive leeway.
AND GLIDING?
Engine off, the Zigolo turns into a nice little glider for
local flight. It does very well and it's a real treat for
climbing thermals. Relative wind noise around the
cockpit is an excellent indicator of the mass of the air!
In this engine-off configuration, the Zigolo keeps all its
authority with efficient control surfaces. Piloting round
the center of thermals or keeping on top of a ridge
dynamic with absolute precision is childishly simple!
The efficiency (?), the minimum weight of the unit
(192kg for our test) allowed us to calculate a glide ratio
of more than 10 at 59 km/h with a min Vz around about
-1.4 m/s at this speed. These figures are certainly not
the best around for a glider but for an ultralight at less
than 8000 euros it's not bad ... and I assure you that it
is perfectly possible to learn to glide this way! Some
training centers are already thinking of equipping
themselves with this machine to introduce soloed
students to this type of flying.
Read pdf file translation in english from French language