Reminiscing back to my teenage years, I vividly recall that I was completely obsessed by the grandeur and tranquility of pure flight. I spent many hundreds of hours soaring my model towline gliders. Their yellow transparent wings aga. "If only I could do that," I would repeat over and over again. "What is it like to fly so effortlessly and gracefully?" What is it like and how does it feel to be borne aloft on gentle thermal currents and be carried up to the clouds? What a marvelous panoramic view it must be from up there. I wonder what it is like to reach out with my hand and touch a cloud?

The years passed. My models have grown into large man-carrying sailplanes which have transported me through many aerial adventures. I have seen numerous sights I only dreamed about as a boy. But something was missing. The intimacy with nature I envisioned in my youth was never realized. But why? I ask you this ----- can a beautiful summer's day be enjoyed by sitting indoors and gazing out the window? How much more an experience it would be to sit on your lawn and feel, smell, listen, see, and even taste your environment. In the same way the physical sensation of pure flight can be better realized by being on the outside, drifting along slowly and silently with only a gentle breeze in your face so that nothing escapes your senses.

To me, the MONARCH butterfly exemplifies this intimate relationship of a creature of flight with its environment, and its name suggests it is master of its dominion. Hence we have the sailplane MONARCH, a new design to give the soaring enthusiast wings, freedom, and a new perspective on life.

The MONARCH is a very basic aircraft, pure and simple. It's so light in weight that two small boys can carry it around. It is launched with only a small amount of energy. It is like a giant model sailplane and can perhaps be launched like one. (It is interesting to note that the hosepower required to winch-launch the M is three times less than would be required to launch a conventional single-place sailplane.) Its light wing loading of two Ibs. /sq. ft. allows thermal soaring at very low altitudes and permits flying from small rough fields. The stall and spinproof characteristics inherent with flying wing design builds confidence and puts more fun in flying. The MONARCH carries a full complement of controls including airbrakes for glide-path control. The nose fairing is used for several reasons--it improves aerodynamics, provides crash protection, and it looks nice. The overhead control stick also acts as a crash barrier for the face in case of a collision with wires or fences. The MONARCH can be flown at sub-stall speeds. without loss of control, which may be as low as 12 mph. Normal thermaling speed is 25 to 28 mph with an accompanying sink rate of slightly less than three ft./sec. Cruising speed at two m./sink rate is 53 mph.

Construction of the MONARCH nearly all plastic with some wood and steel. Fiberglass has an excellent strength-to-weight ratio and can formed to most any desired shape.

Steel provides stiffness and durability in control drives and fittings. Wood used in cap strips over the foam ribs, for trailing edges, and control-surfaces spars. The fiberglass fuselage is molded in two halves and bonded together after the control system and fittings are installed. The fiberglass nose, bucket seat, and instrument panel are bonded on and complete the fuselage. The wing leading-edge and spar are pre-shaped in molds and provide the wing's strength. The aft section of the wing and fin are covered with light weight dacron and doped for airtightness.

The MONARCH may be transported to and from the soaring site with the fuselage carried in the back of a station wagon and the wings in a cradle on the rooftop. Assembly time is about 15 minutes.

Wingspan 36 ft.

Aspect Ration 8.3

Wing Area 155 sq./ft.

Airfoil NASA 43112

Wing Loading, Max. 2.2 Ibs. sq./ft.

Empty Weight 125 Ibs.

Gross Weight 345 Ibs.

Pilot Weight, Max. 220 Ibs.

Safe Load Limit 5.3 g

Speed Range 24 to 75 mph

Glide Angle 19 to 1

Min. Sink Rate 2.8 fps @ 30 mph