Aerodynamic Analysis of a Class II High Performance Hang Glider - The ATOS

Abstract

The present study summarizes the efforts towards the aerodynamic evaluation of the ATOS rigid wing hang glider, developed by A-I-R Aeronautic Innovation, Germany. During the initial stages of the research investigation, an extensive literature search was performed to assess the state-of-the-art in today’s high performance hang gliders. Consequently, a unique design database for high-performance hang gliders has been compiled. This literature study revealed the current dominance of the rigid wing ATOS in competitive hang gliding. To illustrate the superior aerodynamic characteristics of the ATOS hang glider, an aerodynamic analysis study has been performed in the following order: two-dimensional airfoil analysis, transition from two-dimensional airfoil to three-dimensional wing analysis, the estimation of the lift-curve slope and the influence of high lift devices, the determination of the spanwise lift distribution, and drag breakdown. Results from the aerodynamic analysis performed with XFoil and LinAir Pro are presented. Importantly, the wing lift & drag results generated by the variety of methods are compared quantitatively and qualitatively. Considering the fact that the Horten IV resembles a milestone in flying wing glider design, a comparative study of the Horten IV with the ATOS flying wing has been undertaken.