Prue / 215

Glider Reg. Number: -

195?

Design & Development

The Prue 215 is an American high-wing, V-tailed, single-seat glider that was designed by Irving Prue in 1949.

The Prue 215 is an all-metal design with a short 40 ft (12.2 m) wing with a relatively high aspect ratio of 20:1. The wing uses a NACA 23012 airfoil at the wing root, becoming a NACA 8318 at the wing tip. Airfoil-shaped flaps are mounted below and behind the wing for glidepath control. The aircraft uses a retractable monowheel landing gear.

Three Prue 215s were built, all as amateus builds from plans. The initial one was Prue's prototype. The second one was built by Ed Minghelli and later owned by Max Dreher, who mounted a jet engine on it. The second and third built are designated 215A.

The second Prue 215 built was flown to second place in the 1958 US Nationals by Harold Hutchinson.

Only one Prue 215 remains listed on the FAA registry.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Wingspan: 40 ft (12 m)
• Wing area: 90 sq ft (8.4 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 20:1
• Airfoil: Root: NACA 23012, tip: NACA 8318
• Empty weight: 340 lb (154 kg)
• Gross weight: 540 lb (245 kg)

Performance

• Maximum glide ratio: 29:1 at 52 mph (84 km/h)
• Rate of sink: 156 ft/min (0.79 m/s) at 40 mph (64 km/h)
• Wing loading: 6.0 lb/sq ft (29 kg/m²)

Variants

215 The first aircraft constructed was designated as a Prue 215.

215A The second and third aircraft constructed were given the designation Prue 215A.