Laister-Kauffman LP-49
Glider Reg. Number:
Design & Development
The Laister LP-49 is a family of American high-wing, single-seat, gliders that were designed by Jack Laister and produced by Laister Sailplanes both as kit aircraft and as certified complete aircraft.
The original model, the LP-46 was first flown in 1966, with the LP designating Laister Products. The LP-46 features a 44.5 ft (13.6 m) wingspan, and the first LP-46 has fixed monowheel landing gear.
The LP-49 is an improved version of the LP-46, designed for the Standard Class with a 49.2 ft (15.0 m) wingspan. The LP-49 has a metal wing with a NACA 64(3)-618 laminar flow airfoil and all-metal tail surfaces. The control surfaces are all counter-weighted with internal weights. The fuselage is a semi-monocoque fiberglass design, mounting a shock-strut suspended retractable monowheel landing gear with an automatic swiveling and retractable tailwheel. The ailerons and dive brakes automatically hook up on aircraft assembly. Due to the fuselage construction the aircraft type certificate contains the restriction "All external portions of the fuselage exposed to sunlight must be painted white, except for a minimum amount of light shaded markings."
Specifications
Wingspan: 49 ft 3 in 15.0 m
Wing area: 143 sq ft 13.3 m2
Aspect ratio: 16.9
Empty weight: 475 lb 215 kg
Gross weight: 700 lb 318 kg
Airfoil: NACA 64(3)-618