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Bob CARLTON is the owner,
designer and pilot of this twin jet sailplane (glider). It is powered by 2 AMT-USA AT-450 engines, which produce 45 lb thrust each.
Airframe is an Alisport Silent (12 meter span), which originally had a 28 HP 2-stroke engine with a single blade prop. Empty weight with the jets is 388 lb. Fuel capacity is 11 gallons (US), which is good for 30 minutes at full power, or nearly 1 hour at 100 knot cruise (at 10,000 ft).
Climb is almost 500 ft/min at 70 knots (STP).
The longest Bob's powered flight so far has been 52 minutes. Flight profile was a self-launch from 6200'elevation airport, 2000' climb and 100 knot cruise.
Typical takeoff weight with Bob, full fuel and wingtip pyro is about 650 lb (not sure where someone got 1000+ lb number).
The engines weigh only 5 lb each, and the entire engine pylon is fully retractable. All engine operation
(start, run shutdown, cooling) is controlled by a computer (ECU). Throttle is total fly-by-wire.
Not only does this plane self-launch, but Bob do a full low-level jet powered aerobatic show with it.
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