Ruppert Archaeopteryx
Ruppert Composite GmbH · Switzerland · first flew 2001 · glider
The Ruppert Archaeopteryx is a Swiss single-seat microlift glider designed by Roger Ruppert. It is named after the feathered dinosaur of the Late Jurassic.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Pod-and-boom fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High wing of 13.6 m span
- Pod-and-boom fuselage
- Flaps that act as airbrakes when set to 45 to 70 degrees
It can be foot-launched, and has also been launched by aerotow, bungee, auto-tow and winch. It has a ballistic parachute.
Specifications
- The Ruppert Archaeopteryx has a length of 5.7 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.6 m (45 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 130 km/h (81 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The design started in 1998 at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences as a research project. The prototype first flew in September 2001. Series production began in summer 2009 and deliveries to customers commenced in May 2010.
Variants
Variants are the Standard, the Performance with a cockpit fairing, the Race with a cockpit fairing and windshield, and the Electric Electeryx. The Electeryx added electric propulsion in mid-2014 for self-launching.
Where you'll see it
Customers in Australia, Argentina, Germany, France, Austria, the USA, Canada and Switzerland took delivery of 38 by September 2023. In December 2025 a first launch of a glider by bicycle, using nine cyclists, took the Archaeopteryx to 100 m.
Related aircraft
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