Eta Aircraft eta
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| Type designation | eta |
| Competition class | Open |
| Crew | 2 |
| Length | 9.84 m |
| Height | m |
| Cockpit width | m |
| Cockpit height | m |
| Wingspan | 30.9 m |
| Wing area | 18.6 m² |
| Aspect ratio | 51.3 |
| Empty mass | ca. kg |
| Water ballast | kg |
| Tail water ballast | kg |
| Maximum mass | 850 kg |
| Wing loading | 45.6 kg/m² (15 m) |
| Maximum speed | 280 km/h |
| Maneuver speed | km/h |
| Speed in strong turbulence | km/h |
| Minimum sink rate | ca. m/s unballasted |
| Best glide ratio | ca. 72 |
| Engine type | Solo 2625 |
| Power | 47 kW |
The eta is an Open Class two-seater flapped self-launching glider manufactured by ETA Aircraft. It is the highest performing glider in existence.
Three etas have been manufactured to date. The second prototype was extensively damaged in 2003 during the spin tests required for the type certification. Both pilots parachuted to safety. The prototype was repaired and the tests completed successfully.
The glider will be produced by hand in a small series, at a rate of about three per year.
[edit] Performance
Eta participated in a World Championship for the first time in 2003 at Leszno. The pilot Janusz Centka was able to win five days and achieved an overall second place. Good placings have also been achieved by eta in later competitions. The glider is however hampered by the current weight limitation in the Open Class, which does not allow it to fly with a sufficiently high wingloading in strong weather, to the advantage of its opponents.
