Briegleb / BG-12BD

Glider Reg. Number: N12RK

1972

Design & Development

The Briegleb BG-12 is a single-seat sailplane of wooden construction developed in the United States in the 1950s. It was marketed for homebuilding in plans or kit form, with over 350 sets of plans selling by 1978. The BG-12 is a conventional sailplane design, with a high cantilever wing and a conventional empennage. Later models featured a highly-revised fuselage, a swept-forward tail fin, and an all flying tailplane with balance tabs.  The BG-12BD is a BG-12B with revised wing and ailerons.

The NSM BG-12 in a red orange and white color scheme, was donated to the museum in 1977 by Robert Kellner.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Length: 21 ft 11 in (6.68 m)
• Wingspan: 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
• Height: 4 ft 0 in (1.22 m)
• Wing area: 141 ft² (13.1 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 17.7
• Empty weight: 500 lb (227 kg)
• Gross weight: 900 lb (409 kg)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 135 mph (217 km/h)
• Maximum glide ratio: 34
• Rate of sink: 136 ft/min (0.7 m/s)