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Specifications

• Span 9.86 m./ 32.35 ft
• Area 10.91 sq. m. / 117.5 sq.ft.
• Aspect ratio 8.9
• Airfoil NACA 4412
• Empty weight 107 kg. / 235 lb.
• Payload 86 kg. / 190 lb.
• Gross weight 193 kg. / 425 lb.
• Wing loading 17.69 kg. / sq. m. / 3.63 lb. / sq. ft.
• Structure 2-Strut-braced, 2-spar, constant chord, wood/fabric wings; metal/fabric tail; steel-tube/fabric fuselage.

   

Performance

• L/D max. 16.5 64 kph/ 35 k/ 40 mph
• Min. sink 0.91 m/s / 3.0 fps / 1.78 kt

Other

• Country of origin USA
• Designer William G. Briegleb
• No. of seats 1
• No. built 9 by factory, 67 kits sold
• No. in the U.S. 4

The BG-6 was introduced in 1939 and produced in both complete and kit form. It has no devices for glidepath control. A few factory-built ships were used as training gliders in World Was II.

Briegleb BG-7

Specifications

• Span 12.27 m./ 40.25 ft
• Area 11.43 sq. m. / 123 sq.ft.
• Aspect ratio 13.1
• Airfoil NACA 4412
• Empty weight 113 kg. / 250 lb.
• Payload 113 kg. / 250 lb.
• Gross weight 226 kg. / 500 lb.
• Wing loading 19.77 kg. / sq. m. / 4.1 lb. / sq. ft.
• Structure 2-Strut-braced, 2-spar, wood/fabric wings; metal/fabric tail; steel-tube/ fabric fuselage

   

Performance

• L/D max. 20 64 kph/ 35 kt/ 40 mph
• Min. sink 0.88 m/s / 2.9 fps / 1.70 kt

Other

• Country of origin USA
• Designer William G. Briegleb
• No. of seats 1
• No. built 1
• No. in the U.S. 3 by factory, 20 kits sold

The BG-7 was developed in 1940 by adding longer, tapered wings to the BG-6. Most have spoilers fitted, which the BG-6 lacked. Modifications were common, frequently in the cockpit area. The added span created some directional instabillity, so many BG-7’s had the rear fuselage lengthened or area added to the vertical fin.

Briegleb BG-12 series

Specifications-BG-12BD

• Span 15.24 m./ 50 ft
• Area 13.1 sq. m. / 141 sq.ft.
• Aspect ratio 17.7
• Airfoil NACA 4419R, 4406R
• Empty weight 227 kg. / 500 lb.
• Payload 113 kg. / 250 lb.
• Gross weight 340 kg. / 750 lb.
• Wing loading 25.95 kg. / sq. m. / 5.3 lb. / sq. ft.

Performance

• L/D max. 34 90 kph/ 49 kt/ 56 mph
• Min. sink 0.69 m/s / 56 fps / 76 kt
• 76 kph/ 41 kt/ 47 mph

Other

• Country of origin USA
• Designer William G. Briegleb
• No. of seats 1
• No. kits sold about 350
• No. in the U.S. approx. 75

The BG-12 series has established an enviable record as a homebuilt sailplane with around 350 kits or sets of plans having been delivered to customers. The prototype flew in 1956 using a modified BG-6 fuselage. The –12 A production version has a 15% thick 3-piece wing. A lighter 2-piece 18% thick wing was developed in 1963 as the –12B. Both have flaps for glidepath control. One flapless –12C model was built with a 2 piece 15-meter span wing with air brakes to meer FAI/OSTIV Standard Class requirements. The –12BD model eliminates three degrees of wing twist, accomplishing the same effet by an aileron linkage applicable only in the low-speed range. The –12/16, which first flew in 1968, uses a new lower-drag fuselage topped off with a swept-forward tail. The horizontal tail surfaces are of the stabilator type including two anti-servo tabs to produce good stick ‘feel’. L/D max. is 36. A number of modifications were incorporated by individual kitbuilders. One example is the Niedrauer NG-1 which has a BG-12/16 fuselage with a –12B tail and cockpit depth reduced by 9 in /23 cm to 34 in /86 cm, and lengthened to accommodate the pilot in a semi-reclining position. Specifications are for the BG-12BD.

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