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MDM-FOX FOR SALE
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Summary |
Specifications: |
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This is your opportunity to own
a 1/10th share of the worlds' most advanced two-seat
aerobatic glider - The MDM-Fox.
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Max
Speed |
151kts (170mph)
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Max G-
Force |
-6g
to +9g (solo)
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Wing
Span: |
14m |
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Aerobatic Category: |
Unlimited
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Extras: |
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Wing tips for soaring!
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Two parachutes
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Cobra Trailer
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Aircraft Covers
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Location: |
Contact us: |
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The aircraft is
based in the UK near Grantham in
Lincolnshire.
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Please
contact us for more detailed information:
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A Pilot's
Review:
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The Fox is a
truly remarkable glider. Made and designed in Poland by a
partnership including Jerzy Makula, the world champion at
the time, it remains the only training glider capable of
unlimited aerobatics. There are many small differences which
give the “Fox” a look of purpose and when you see what it
can do you soon realise that in this case - looks are not
deceiving.
As you walk up to the glider you notice its stance is nose
high. This is due to the wing having a very small rigging
angle relative to the fuselage and a large main wheel under
the rear seat. This feature does raise the wings and improve
wing tip clearance as there is no dihedral, but it also
makes it more difficult to get into the front cockpit.
Once you have clambered into the front you are presented
with a very comfortable cockpit. The stick and airbrake
levers are carved from solid wood. The seat rake and rudder
pedals are adjustable and pilots upto 6’2’’can fit in the
front without a problem. The only big difference with most
gliders at this point is the large clear perspex window in
the instrument panel that is designed to take the Arresti
aerobatic programme card. The rear seat in comparison is a
little cramped with no seat adjustment. The main straps are
a five-point design and uniquely, a second lap strap is
included as a completely independent system to give you
added confidence when pushing hard negative ‘g’. Nobody
wants an ‘un-commanded’ bail-out.
The glider is a tail dragger and on aerotow, the tail can be
brought up quickly during the initial roll so directional
control is good. Many students start a small ‘Pilot Induced
Oscillation’ in roll (PIO) at this stage as the ailerons
work at low speed and are surprisingly effective.
Once off tow the fun can begin. The stall is surprisingly
docile and the glider can be encouraged to mush stall. Any
tendency to drop a wing can be controlled with careful use
of rudder. The wing will drop at the stall, however, if any
yaw is present. To enter a spin for competition purposes, a
little rudder is applied a few knots above the stall to
improve its effectiveness before separated air from the
wing-root blanks the rear flying surfaces.
The elevator is incredibly powerful, in fact the moving
surface is bigger than the fixed horizontal stabilizer. The
elevator can stall the main wing in almost any attitude and
speed up to max manoeuvring speed; it can even stall the
wing negatively from straight and level flight if you push
the stick positively enough. In this way an outside
(negative) flick roll can be performed from erect straight
level. The combination of powerful elevator and rudder makes
for some exciting possibilities but is also the only
Achilles heel of the glider's flying characteristics. Under
certain conditions, high energy flicks with a rearwards
centre of gravity can result in the glider entering a flat
spin. The blanking effect of the elevator and fuselage can
reduce the effectiveness of the rudder in aiding recovery.
The ailerons are huge and take most of the 14m wingspan. The
roll rate is not surprisingly very, very fast for a two
seater. My estimate is a 360°-aileron roll takes 4 seconds.
A snap roll is much faster. With roll rates as fast as this,
figures such as hesitation rolls and vertical rolls become a
reality. Indeed many figures previously thought of as
inappropriate for gliders can be attempted including rolling
turns, square loops, outside loops, avalanches, inverted
spins and tumbles to name but a few.
The stick feel is very positive, the roll loads at speed are
particularly high but the stick is very effective. The
visibility is excellent from the front seat. The back seat
gets a good view of hairstyles, particularly when inverted,
but still all round visibility is no problem.
In the circuit, nearer the ground, you become aware of its
fast flying speed and relatively poor airbrakes. The minimum
approach speed is 60 kts (70mph) but as there is a marked
nose pitch down with use of the airbrakes, the tendency is
to fly the approach too fast. There is a powerful hydraulic
brake so stopping once on the ground is not a problem.
In summary, I have never flown a glider before where the
limitation is one’s imagination rather than the airframe.
The 14m Fox is an exciting glider and with the 16.15m tips
an excellent all-rounder as well as outclassing almost
everything else in the aerobatic arena! |
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Review by
Guy Westgate
7 times UK
Glider Aerobatics Champion
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