From Patrick Juvenelle , Thu Apr 3 22:22:53 1997
Hi Alec. I am French and live in Brazil. If you are interested by the evolution of the SKUA, Please let me know. Those photos are from last month. We should be flying from one to two months from now.
Best regards, Patrick Juvenelle
Hello Chuck: My name is Patrick Juvenelle, I am French and live in Brasil. I flew gliders when younger, then paragliders recently. I am 41 years old. I send you a few pictures of a new Light Glider: The Skua. I did start the project 2 years ago. We did first 1/4 maquette and start effectivly building the prototype 1 year ago. We should be flying around next month. Production should start around next september if every thing runs good. My frend Miguel Rosario(Corsario) is the engineer and draftsman, and up to now, besides him, I only worked with one other person. In a second time, (once the prototype flies corectly),w e plan to adapt the Skua for Paraplegic people, and also make it amphibious). I am financing up to now the project by myself, it's quite difficult, I would love to go further, but before that, I have to realize what is my market and how is the acceptance of such a little glider. Also a trip with the glider looks more affordable in the USA than in Europe. (Car renting , Travel expenses, etc..), and as well, it apears that legislation, insurance is well adapted in the States, not in France. And finally, I believe that the economy is better in the USA, as well as the interest from the pilots for such machines. It's quite difficult to already fix a price. At the beguining, we thought of 10.000 $ F.O.B. I don't know if it will be possible to stand that price, It will be more likely between $12500 and $15000. All that depends at which price I will get the rough materal. I need to realize where and how I will set the firm. It also depends on the way I am going to sell it. I know that Ariane spend 25% for comercializing the Swift. This looks terribly high to me. I will prefer to stay closer to my clients, pilots, through the net for instance, travel, and also estabishing a kind of repair place for small repairs. The glider is lovely and I hope that it is the beginning of a great flying adventure. Thank you for your attention, sincerely, P.S. I am very interested if you have any knowledge taking off with an elastique from ramp of free Flight sites or if you know who knows. I also have contacted Tim Morley as the Skua is adaptable for disbled people. Patrick Juvenelle. P.P.S.This is a letter that I sent to interested Pilot : Dear Sir, Thank You for your letter asking informations about our light glider Skua After the preparatory phase, drawings, computer development of the project, we did already start since a few months the last step before the industrial production. The glider commercialization will begin at the end of this year. Actually we are doing the static tests an also flight tests. Skua characteristics: EMPTY WEIGHT: 70 KG = 154 lbs. STALL SPEED : 32KM/H = 20 m.p.h. GROSS WEIGHT: 170 KG = 375 lbs. CRUZE SPEED : 75 KM/H = 106 m.p.h. LENGTH : 5,12m = 16.8 ft. MAX. SPEED : 110 KM/H = 68 m.p.h. SPAN : 12,60m = 41 ft. CHARGE : +5,0;-3,0 Gs.. AREA : 12,20M2 = 131 sq. ft. BEST GLIDE : 25:1 Transportation over a car top or a small trailer: - Wings disassembled in four equal pieces of 3 meters each. ù Fuselage disassembled in 2 pieces. - Auxiliary engine installation will be possible on Skua. Storage: - Wings can be folded reducing wingspan in half. Accessories for Skua: - Take off light catapult, for take off on hang gliders points. (This will be the safiest way of taking off) - Kit version will be available soon. (That I don't know, lamination is quite a responsable job. Miguel says that it is common, specialy in the USA. I believe that is a work of too much responsability to allow any one to laminate carbon and Fiber. What do you think?) We took note of your request, and you will be one of the first to receive all the informations, including transport price, as soon as possible. We are just waiting to end setting up the company. Pilot myself, I hope to answer all your wishes with this new light glider. I thank you very much for your interest, sincerely, Patrick JuvenelleBack to top
Remenber me? Patrick speaking. I am very pleased to tell you that the prototype is finally finished! The Glider is beautiful, comfortable and strong. It looks very smooth to pilot. We did only a few flights towing by a motorbike. We didn't go higher than 15 feet. We are doing the engine adaptation ( JPX D 320 ) + Duquesne foldable propellers. The elastic is also here.
I am also going through the paper work to have it legalise here in BRASIL.
The weight with no engine did reach 95 Kgs ( About 190 pounds). The stall speed was confirmed around 32 km/h. We will reach the 70 kgs in production, if that comes one day! I believe that in about 2 weeks time, the SKUA will really start its flying life.