Schempp-Hirth Janus BM
The ICAO code JANU groups the self-launching, engine-fitted versions of the Schempp-Hirth Janus, the two-seat tandem-cockpit sailplane that in 1974 became one of the world's first genuine high-performance two-seaters. Like the unpowered Janus B and C, these aircraft share a glass-fibre monocoque fuselage adapted from the Nimbus-2 and forward-swept, water-ballasted wings, but the JANU-designated Janus BM, CM and CT add a small piston self-launch or sustainer engine, the CM's a Rotax 535C and the CT's a Solo 2350 two-stroke, letting a crew climb away or extend a flight without a tow plane or winch. The type was eventually succeeded by Schempp-Hirth's unflapped Duo Discus and flapped Arcus two-seaters.
Did you know?
One of the first high-performance two-seat motorgliders: a sailplane carrying a small engine that climbs away without a tow or winch.
Specifications
| Length | 8.6 m (28 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 18.2 m (60 ft) |
| Height | 1 m (3 ft) |
| Persons on board | 2 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 0.6 t |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Schempp-Hirth Janus BM starts as a Uncommon catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Schempp-Hirth, the Janus BM family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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