SINGLE-SEAT GERMAN 'TUG
THE ESS-64I, a German aircraft designed specifically for glider towing, made its first flight on September 17, 1971, and is currently undergoing flight tests. It was designed by members of the Flugwissenschaftliche Arbeitsgemeinschaft ("Flugwag!) Bremen.
It is a single-seat, low-wing monoplane with a single engine (Lycoming 0-360) and non-retractable undercarriage. The wing and tail unit are of wood construction,
while the fuselage has a steel tube structure. The tow coupling is in the fuselage rear section. The machine was designed for safe, economical towing operation, and calculated performance figures include:
Take-off run, 90m; take-off distance to 15m, 140m
level speed with towing propeller, 160 km/h;
rate of climb at ground level, 10.5 m/sec;
rate of climb towing two-seater (Kranich III) at 500m, 5 m/sec;
towing single-seater (K-6) at 500m, 6.5 m/sec.
Production is likely to be contracted to a licensee. The price has not yet been fixed, and will be strongly influenced by the extent of the series.
Details from FLUGWAG Bremen, Rockwinkeler Landstrasse 33, 28 Bremen-Oberneuland, West-Germany
