Ross R-6

The Ross R-6 is a tandem two-seat, high-wing glider that was designed by Harland Ross and first flown in 1956.

Design and development

Ross designed the R-6 as a two-seat sailplane with the intention of setting new multi-place records with it. The aircraft was initially designed to use the same 55 ft (16.8 m) span wing as the highly successful Ross-Johnson RJ-5, but with a gross weight of 1,226 lb (556 kg) as opposed to the RJ-5's 850 lb (386 kg) this gave the R-6 one of the highest wing loadings for a glider of its day.

The R-6 was constructed with a metal fuselage, which was a departure from Ross's earlier designs. The passenger seat is behind the pilot's seat, aft of the wing spar and has no windows, visibility is provided by a removable plastic overhead dome. The wing features dive brakes. The wingspan was later increased to 60 ft (18.3 m), lowering the wing loading somewhat, but increasing the high aspect ratio to 28:1. Originally taking off from a dolly and landing on a fixed skid, the R-6 later had a retractable monowheel landing gear installed.

R6

R6 or R-6 may be: