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African glider aims to take on the world

African glider aims to take on the world

30th July 2015

By: Creamer Media Reporter

  

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From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report. South African glider manufacturing company Jonker Sailplanes, which designs and builds the JS-1 glider, is the only glider manufacturer on the African continent. Anine Vermeulen tells us more.

Anine Vermeulen:
Jonker Sailplanes founder Uys Jonker says that the success of the company has to do with the unique design principles that have been used to manufacture gliders at the company’s Potchefstroom, North West Province-based facility.

He says the company has taken an integrated design approach and have incorporated aspects such as aerodynamics, structures and pilot comfort into the design plan

Jonker explains that a glider’s performance depends mainly on aerodynamics and the aerodynamic design of the company’s JS-1glider took five years to perfect.

Jonker Sailplanes co-founder Uys Jonker

Anine Vermeulen:
Jonker notes that a glider needs to be able to climb well using updrafts and must have good cruising performance.

He says that Gliders have negative flaps and ours are made for climbing and for cruising. The integrated design requires a good profile with a good platform; we also deigned winglets to control the airflow around the wind tips to save on drag.

He further states that the company also spent a lot of time designing the interface and the fuselage, explaining that there is a lot of interference drag between the fuselage and the wing, which is an area where lift can be lost.

Jonker highlights that the Manufacturing Indaba is an important event as it allows industry to voice its concerns and obstacles to improve and expand, become more efficient and it also gives companies the opportunity to explain how they cross certain barriers.

He notes that the manufacturing creates wealth, which is why it is important for South Africa to have a strong manufacturing sector.

“Government fully understands that and has incentives in place to try an integrated approach so that companies can actually work together towards the common goal, which is to create jobs and wealth for South Africa,” he concludes.

Jonker Sailplanes co-founder Uys Jonker

Shannon de Ryhove:
Other news making headlines this week: McDonald’s South Africa seeks to build scalable adaptable restaurants in future; and Hulamin focuses on growing local demand amid global headwinds.

Fast food restaurant McDonalds wants to use a “go-to-market” concept with regard to the construction of its future restaurants, producing scalable, adaptable buildings where modules can be added as needed.

McDonald’s South Africa CEO Greg Solomon

Weakened demand from China, paired with the ongoing electricity challenges in South Africa, have led to JSE-listed Hulamin’s headline earnings a share falling to 25c a share for the six months to June 30.

Hulamin CEO Richard Jacob

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy.

Edited by Shannon de Ryhove
Contributing Editor

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