Rubik R-15 Koma
Rubik · Hungary · first flew 1949 · glider
The Rubik R-15 Koma (Godfather) was a Hungarian side-by-side two-seat training glider, designed to introduce pilots to winch-launching techniques.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Pod-and-boom glider with side-by-side seats under a glazed, centrally hinged two-part canopy
- Cantilever mid-mounted wing, rectangular in plan with rounded tips and 3 degrees of dihedral
- Semi-recessed monowheel under the pod with a short landing skid ahead of it
A pod-and-boom trainer with a sloping rectangular-section tailboom, a large blunted triangular fin with an under-fin, and a strut-braced rectangular tailplane.
Specifications
- The Rubik R-15 Koma has a length of 7 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 130 km/h (81 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Ernő Rubik designed it in 1940 as part of a pair with the single-seat R-16 Lepke. After a 1948 competition the designs were chosen and the prototype Koma first flew in April 1949.
Variants
The single R-15a had a lengthened fuselage and a larger fin. The R-15b, first flown in June 1950, added flaps and went into series production.
Where you'll see it
Sixty-five Komas were built between 1950 and 1951 and became the standard Hungarian dual-control winch-launch trainer, remaining in operation into the 1960s.
Related aircraft
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