Introduction
The SuperGee, a descendent of the family that started with the Apogee, then later on turned into the Allegro, is a high performance Discus Launch Glider (also referred to “Side Arm Launch” – SAL gliders). Following this design came the Aegea 2M and Aegea 3M sailplanes. Some of the features that make this design so unique are Mark’s specifically design airfoils, full span aileron wings, and a careful attention to the discus motion forces that effect the launch characteristics.
Drawings and Construction Notes
The SuperGee is designed for 60” (1.5m) competition tasks. It uses a set of custom-designed airfoils, tuned for the airframe design parameters. Detailed construction notes and target weights are provided in the plans - please pay close attention to these if you wish your SuperGee to have the strength it needs, and the performance it should have!
SuperGee Construction
- SuperGee Plan files/supergee.pdf - 34 KB
- SuperGee Fuselage Details files/fusepod3.pdf - 58 KB
- SuperGee Tail Shaping Data and Diagram files/tail.pdf - 14 KB
- SuperGee Spar Slot Details files/sparslot.pdf - 5 KB
- Pod Molding Details files/pod_molding.pdf - 24 KB
- Accurate Tip Sanding files/tip_sanding.pdf - 12 KB
Airfoil Coordinates and Polars
| Airfoil | Coordinates | Compufoil COR files |
|---|---|---|
| AG45c-03 | ag45c-03.dat - 4 KB | AG45C-03.COR - 3 KB |
| AG46c-03 | ag46c-03.dat - 4 KB | AG46C-03.COR - 3 KB |
| AG47c-03 | ag47c-03.dat - 4 KB | AG47C-03.COR - 3 KB |
| ht22 | ht22.dat - 3 KB | HT22.COR - 3 KB |
| ht23 | ht23.dat - 3 KB | HT23.COR - 3 KB |
Related Construction Notes
The Wing
Thin airfoils and a long wide aileron on each wing give this wing it’s three main features:
- Reflex – Setting the ailerons up will allow a thinner wing for launch purposes,
- Under Camber – Restoring the “normal” position or cambering the bottom yields a wide range of speeds for the carefully designed airfoil,
- Flaps – Generates enough drag to slow the plane for catching or spot landing.
- The carbon fiber spars and Kevlar skins provide a strong frame that can take hard launches.
Tail Boom
As innocent as it may look, the boom has ‘an important role in avoiding the roll’: As stiff as the boom may be, it cannot prevent all of the launch moments from bending it. As a result, the tail surfaces will deflect, causing the plane to roll. However, Mark’s design suggests running the pushrod wires on the side of the boom, opposite the launch peg. Together with the elevator control horn being on the bottom and the rudder control horn being on the side opposite the launch peg, the surfaces deflect in the opposite direction, compensating for the launch moments, and launching the plane straight. Without this design tweak, launch presets will have had to be put into the transmitter.
Fuselage Pod
Important! The pod is carefully designed to accommodate the radio gear and battery. Any Ballast shuld be added externally (see below). It retains a streamline shape for reduced drag.
Ballast
The location of the ballast is between the wing and the boom, seated on the two wing pylons. See plan for details.
Tail Surfaces
The elevator is mounted on it’s own pylon rather than an all-moving surface, so it can take the launch forces, A down facing airfoil stabilizes the pitch moment, and the control horn holds the pushrod in place against the boom, saving the weight of a retention mechanism. The rudder also has a side facing non-symmetrical airfoil for launching.