The SZD Juniors

The Scottish Gliding Centre currently has 2 Juniors (callsigns FUS and HRG) in the club fleet which are used as first solo gliders after pilots have graduated from the K-21s. The Junior is an easy-to-fly aircraft with safe handling characteristics suitable for early solo pilots. It is a good choice for pilots during the critical early solo stage and is one of the most respected, easy-to-fly gliders in its class. FUS has recently been completely refurbished by the manufacturer.

From the SZD USA website:
The SZD-51-1 JUNIOR is a single-place club sailplane, with safe and docile handling qualites, specifically designed for early solo and recreational flying.
The Junior was designed from the outset as a club glider, not as a fixed gear version of a competition sailplane. It features a large and comfortable cockpit with a more upright seating position that is preferred by club, a fixed undercarriage with an oversized tire to soften landing, and an unusually strong airframe designed to endure 9,000 hours of demanding club operation. But the key ingredient to the Junior's success is a wing with considerably more wing area than racing sailplanes and an airfoil optimized for safe handling and smooth stall characteristics.
The Junior is certainly the logical choice for pilots during the critical early solo stage. But the admiration of the Junior doesn't end there. After developing basic flying skills in the Junior, many pilots continue to prefer it for cross-country and wave flying and even sports class competition.
The latest development of the SZD-51-1 offers several new features which make it more desirable then ever. Rigging has been further simplified with fully automatic coupling of all flight controls. Cockpit comfort and convenience have been improved with the addition of a fully adjustable pilot's back rest. More comfort, more convenience... and still the best built, best flying club ship on the market.

SZD USA stock picture of Junior

Andy Young ready for the off in HRG

FUS at the launch-point

HRG at the launch-point

View of FUS cockpit and panel

FUS and HRG at the launch-point

A brief review of the Junior by the legendary instructor Derek Piggott from his book “Gliding Safety":

The Junior is perhaps the least known of all the ‘club’ gliders, but it has many excellent features and has much the same best gliding angle as the ASK-23 and Grob 102, although this is at a lower flying speed. Perhaps the most striking and advantageous feature is the huge main wheel fitted with a disc brake. It reduces landing shocks and prevents damage when landing in rough fields. With a claimed glider ratio of 35:1 at 43 knots, the Junior is nearly 10 mph slower than other machines and this makes it particularly suited to thermalling in small, weak thermals. The lower speed is also an advantage for winch launching on a small site and ensures a really high launch. This machine is much closer than many other gliders to my own idea of a good club aircraft. In my opinion the lower circling speeds are a great advantage to the inexperienced pilot, and the chance of damage is always greatly reduced by lower landing speeds. This is why the K8 and the K18 were so successful and popular in the clubs.

SZD Junior Polar Curves

SZD Junior Polar Curves compared with some other entry-level gliders

Junior Specifications: (e&oe, read the handbook and placards!!)

SZD Junior Isometric Views

page last updated on 28th September 2006 ©2002-2006 and the

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