| http://www.survol.cjb.net |
 Introduction
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Group Genesis "Genesis 2"
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| Two pictures
of the Genesis in flight... |
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| ...and on ground | |
| (click on the pictures to enlarge them in a new window) | |
Genesis Group is a team assembled around Jim Marske, Robert Mudd and John Roncz (famous aerodynamicist who collaborated with Burt Rutan, the much renowned designer of "canard" airplanes), and led by Jerry Mercer. The goal of this group was to develop a Standard class high-performance glider, made of composite materials, with a self-stable wing, utilising the latest design and aeronautical construction technology.
The Genesis wing is, as with the earlier Fauvel gliders, naturally stable. It therefore does not require a horizontal stabilizer to compensate for its instability. The small horizontal surface found at the top of the Genesis' fin is used only to control the glider's angle of incidence. The wing has reverse sweep in order to put the variable masses close to the center of gravity, and incorporates water ballast tanks. Thanks to the small size of the fuselage, the total drag of the machine is less than that of other, conventional gliders of the same generation. The Genesis is spin resistant and has very sound handling qualities at low speed. Its performance is better than that of many Standard class gliders, the goal sought from the beginning having been to "do better than Schempp-Hirth's Discus."
The prototype flew for the first time in 1993, and various improvements were applied, resulting in the production version, Genesis 2. The later has slightly modified wing geometry, fully retractable landing gear and a ballistic parachute (optional). It is manufactured in Lithuania, in the factory that made the LAK gliders. A pilot's impression of the Genesis appears in the "In Flight" page.
Translated from the French by Marc de Piolenc (piolenc@reporters.net).
| Characteristics and performance of the Genesis 2 | |
| Wing span | 15.0 m |
| Length | 4.86 m |
| Wing Area | 11.15 m2 |
| Airfoil | Roncz |
| Aspect ratio | 20.2 |
| Empty weight | 241 kg |
| Max. weight | 526 kg |
| Minimum speed | 67 km/h |
| Maximum speed | 276 km/h |
| Best glide ratio | 44:1 at 97 km/h |
| Minimum sink rate | 0.58 m/s |
