Sting
Role Hang glider
National origin Australia
Manufacturer Airborne Windsports
Status In production

The Airborne Sting is a series of Australian high-wing, single-seat hang gliders, designed and produced by Airborne Windsports of Redhead, New South Wales and introduced in the early 2000s.[1]

Design and development

The Stings are intended to be intermediate hang gliders used for recreational flying. They all feature ease of handling with good performance[1]

The Sting 2 154 XC model is made from 7075 aluminum tubing, with the semi-double-surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 9.09 m (29.8 ft) span wing is cable braced with a single kingpost supporting the ground wires. The nose angle is 121° and the aspect ratio is 5.7:1. The aircraft is certified as DHV 1-2.[1]

Variants

Sting 2 118
Very small sized single-seat model with 11.0 m2 (118 sq ft) wing area for very light pilots or those wishing a higher wing loading[1]
Sting 2 140 X
Small sized single-seat model with 13.03 m2 (140.3 sq ft) wing area, 8.45 m (27.7 ft) wing span, a pilot hook-in weight range of 45 to 85 kg (99 to 187 lb) and a wing aspect ratio of 5.5:1[1]
Sting 2 154 XC
Medium sized single-seat model with 14.33 m2 (154.2 sq ft) wing area, 9.09 m (29.8 ft) wing span, a pilot hook-in weight range of 55 to 110 kg (121 to 243 lb) and a wing aspect ratio of 5.7:1[1]
Sting 175 XC
Large sized single-seat model with 16.3 m2 (175 sq ft) wing area, 9.8 m (32.2 ft) wing span, a pilot hook-in weight range of 80 to 135 kg (176 to 298 lb) and a wing aspect ratio of 5.9:1[1]
Sting 3 154
Improved medium sized single-seat model with 14.33 m2 (154.2 sq ft) wing area, 9.1 m (29.9 ft) wing span, a pilot hook-in weight range of 55 to 110 kg (121 to 243 lb) and a wing aspect ratio of 5.7:1 [2]
Sting 3 168
Improved large sized single-seat model with 15.6 m2 (168 sq ft) wing area, 9.5 m (31.2 ft) wing span, a pilot hook-in weight range of 80 to 120 kg (180 to 260 lb) and a wing aspect ratio of 5.7:1 [2]

Specifications (Sting 2 175 XC)

Data from Bertrand[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 16.3 m2 (175 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 5.9:1

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 41. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. 1 2 Airborne Windsports (2011). "Sting 3" (PDF). Retrieved 13 January 2012.
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