Prue 215A Mamba Jet

Prue 215A Mamba Jet
Prue 205 with Baby Mamba Jet. Source : Soaring 1966

Mr Max Dreher, un ingénieur en aéronautique, a étudié et construit toute une série de petits turboréacteur entre 1952 et 1976. Il a monté l’un d’entre eux, plus connu sous l’appellation TJD-76 Baby Mamba, sur le dos du fuselage de son planeur Prue 215A Mamba Jet.

The Prue 215 is an American high-wing, V-tailed, single-seat glider that was designed by Irving Prue in 1949. It is an all-metal design with a short 40 ft (12.2 m) wing with a relatively high aspect ratio of 20:1. The wing uses a NACA 23012 airfoil at the wing root, becoming a NACA 8318 at the wing tip. Airfoil-shaped flaps are mounted below and behind the wing for glidepath control. The aircraft uses a retractable monowheel landing gear

Three Prue 215s were built, all as amateur-builts from plans. The initial one was Prue’s prototype. The second one was built by Ed Minghelli and later owned by Max Dreher, who mounted a jet engine on it. The second and third built are designated 215A

After initial running on the test stand, Max DREHER installed the engine on his Prue 215 sailplane. To do this he designed a jet pack consisting of the engine, the pressurized fuel system and the lubrication unit. the total weight of this first pack was 25  pounds. An auxiliary oil tank is mounted separately and employs an electrical driven gear pump.

A third unit, the jet control pack (engine controls, instruments, switches) is located in the cockpit.

Prue 215A Mamba Jet et Max Dreher
Max Dreher et son Baby Mamba Jet. Source : Popular Mechanics, Mai 1973
Prue 215A Mamba Jet
Carrenage du baby mamba jet sur le Prue-215A. Source : Sport Aviation, octobre 1969

Caractéristiques Prue-215 Jet

ManufacturerIrvin Prue & Max Dreher
TypePlaneur à dispositif d’envol incorporé
First flight 
Nb. built1
Crew1

Mororisation

EngineDreherTJD 76C
Number1
TypeTurboréacteur
Unit thrust  245 N55 lbs

Dimensions

Envergure12,00 m40,00 ft
Lengthm ft
Heightm ft
Wing surface8,36 m²90.0 ft²

Weight 

A videkglb
Crew kg lb
Carburant & huile kg lb
WaterballastKglb
Maximale kglb

Performances 

Vitesse maximum km/hmph
Vitesse de croisièrekm/hmph
Vitesse ascensionnellem/minft/min
Plafond pratiquemft
Autonomiekmmiles
Vitesse d’atterrissagekm/hmph
distance de décollagemyds
Prue 215A Mamba Jet
Prue 215A Mamba Jet
Prue 215A Mamba Jet
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