HP-24 Sailplane Project

In 2001, Bob Kuykendall began the HP-24 Project. The project is an attempt to develop and manufacture a modern, high-performance kit sailplane for construction in the home workshop environment. The wing is configured for 15-meter span, with optional 18-meter span extensions. Provisions are available for up to 200 lbs of water ballast.

The HP-24 is the logical extension of the HP/RS series sailplanes designed by U.S. competition pilot and sailplane designer Richard E. Schreder, and relies heavily on the design and construction techniques of the HP-18 sailplane.

As Bob says on his website, “The HP-24 uses a prefabricated composite fuselage. We are specifically designing the HP-24 forward fuselage and cockpit for more upright seating, with better ergonomics and visibility than the HP-18. We believe that better comfort and reduced fatigue will result in a better soaring experience, and improved overall performance by the pilot.”

“The cockpit of the HP-24 is specifically designed with a wide range of pilot sizes and shapes in mind. The cockpit is designed around an average pilot height of 6′ 2″, with accommodation for a wide range of both larger and smaller pilots.

The wings are female-molded sandwich construction surfaces. They will be supplied with the main spars and upper and lower surfaces already bonded together. The builder will only have to install the control system parts and build and install the control surfaces to finish the wing.

Brad Hill’s Tetra-15 made its first flight on 27 January 2012. The Tetra-15 is the first sailplane built from the HP-24 project development and tooling.”

Bob has maintained a detailed account of the project on his website since its inception. For a blow-by-blow history through March, 2012, visit Bob’s website. For more recent news, see his Facebook page. Click here for kit availability and pricing.