Sablier type 8 Sport genre Chanute
Georges Sablier was a french engineer who designed an unbelievable number of gliders and light aircrafts intended for air enthusiasts. He never built them himself but his works were published in books and many magazines.
Amongst these publications, the practical building manual for glider and light airplane was much appreciated and helped a lot to understand basic aeronautical woodwork.
Two years before the start of the civil war in Spain, he was invited by De Garay y Sesumaga to set up an aeronautic department at their factory of Baracaldo-Bilbao which was called Vizcaina Aviacion.
There, he mainly designed trainers and small transport aircrafts before returning to France at the beginning of the Phoney War.
After the war, he designed an individual portable helicopter that won an award in 1955. The prolific collection of designs of Georges Sablier should be better known.
Amongst these publications, the practical building manual for glider and light airplane was much appreciated and helped a lot to understand basic aeronautical woodwork.
Two years before the start of the civil war in Spain, he was invited by De Garay y Sesumaga to set up an aeronautic department at their factory of Baracaldo-Bilbao which was called Vizcaina Aviacion.
There, he mainly designed trainers and small transport aircrafts before returning to France at the beginning of the Phoney War.
After the war, he designed an individual portable helicopter that won an award in 1955. The prolific collection of designs of Georges Sablier should be better known.
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Sablier-Chanute characteristics : |
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| Length : 3,50 m |
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Wingspan : 4,80 m |
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Wing area : front: 8,80 m² |
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| Empty weight : 18 kg | |
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Height : 1,3 m |
The BAPA machine is a Chanute-style biplane hang glider, designed to be simple and affordable to build.
It can take off from steeply sloping hills without any assistance and can be controlled in flights by body motions.
Constructed by one of our members in the late 1970s, the glider has now been completed and is part of our collection.
It can take off from steeply sloping hills without any assistance and can be controlled in flights by body motions.
Constructed by one of our members in the late 1970s, the glider has now been completed and is part of our collection.
This is a static display.
Although designed for amateur construction, this machine can still be dangerous. Moreover, it is highly unlikely that a volunteer would agree to fly it!
Although designed for amateur construction, this machine can still be dangerous. Moreover, it is highly unlikely that a volunteer would agree to fly it!
The Sablier type 8 Sport Chanute of the BAPA was built by Thibaut, a BAPA member, several decades ago. This glider remained unfinished, only two wings were realized. These parts were received by the BAPA in 2013. Thibaut found his Sablier-Chanute back and resumed the construction.
2013 - BAPA receives two wings of a Type 8 Sport Chanute. The glider is incomplete
Summer 2015 - the restoration begins whith the cleaning of wings and construction of mats
The manufacture of the tail includes the empennage that was made following the drawings. The few inaccuracies in the instructions allowed certain freedoms of style.
2016 - Manufacture of the tail
The fabric covering of the Sablier type 8 Sport Chanute is traditional and made with a linen fabric.
Summer 2017 - fabric covering of empennage and wings
Despite precise work respecting traditional techniques. The first fabric covering failed because of the quality of the fabric. Good to Know. Do not cut corners on the quality of materials. For a few tens of euros saved, tens of hours are lost.
The fabric covering of Chanute is used to learn traditional covering. It is therefore normal that this operation takes time and that some minor modifications are necessary.
Summer 2018 - new fabric covering
The new fabric covering enjoy the good weather conditions of the summer 2018. A new fabric was purchased and the trailing edges of the wings were reinforced.
The elements of the tail have been redesigned to be more resistant to the tension of the fabric.
The elements of the tail have been redesigned to be more resistant to the tension of the fabric.
September 29 of 2018 - first test flight
The restoration completed!