Flying straight down

I'm looking for an airplane that can fly straight down for several seconds and not exceed it's Vne. Ideally, the airplane would reach equilibrium at a speed below Vne. Powered planes don't seem to have adequate drag devices to keep the speed below their red line, even the ones with big props. I've looked at gliders with spoilers (or dive brakes?) that advertise the capability to make 'terminal velocity' dives. For some gliders this means a 45 degree dive without exceeding Vne. I need 90 degrees.

Anybody know if the SGS 1-34 will stay below Vne in a 90 degree dive?

Any other airplane suggestions?

Just curious....Why?

Any of the Glasflugel gliders with trailing edge brakes can probably do it. I know from experience that the Club Libelle tops out at around 85 knots with a 110 kg pilot on board and full brakes. That's well below Vne. I couldn't say for sure I made a truly vertical dive, but I tried!

You might also want to check the Hornet and Mosquito and the 304CZ (which is in current production).

Some models of Ventus also had tailing edge brakes. I don't know whether they are speed limiting.

You might also want to check the Blanik L-13. In one of my early training flights we made a near-vertical dive from 10,000 ft and the speed didn't go above 120 knots (Vne is 136).

The Ka-7 and ASK-1 also have good brakes, though I've never tried a vertical dive in them.

The HP series can go straight down with full flaps and not exceed about 95 knots. To go straight down (following a plumb bob line) would require going beyond 90 degrees due to the lift created.

Bruce Patton

Schemp_Hirth Mini-Nimbus (recommend C version)

This was very stable at about 85-90knots in as near vertical as I cared to go. Thicker wing section than the Ventus and maybe stronger. Certainaly cheaper if you're just interested in vertical performance!

OK, that's my information. How about an answer to the 'Why' question?

The Slingsby Capstan has very good airbrakes and can dive vertically at about 90 knots. The fuselage is slightly past the vertical.

The Capstan is a 1960s two seat side by side British glider.

How about the Windex 1200c. This guy:
http://www.stevecoan.com/index.htm

Apparently dives one 2000' vertically

Regards

Our 1-34 was test flown Sunday following some maintenance work. The pilot reported it was speed limiting to 125mph in the vertical with the dive brakes deployed. This was from approximately 10000msl.

Frank Whiteley