Ross R-6

The Ross R-6 is a tandem two-seat, high-wing glider that was designed by Harland Ross and first flown in 1956.

Design and development
Ross designed the R-6 as a two-seat sailplane with the intention of setting new multi-place records with it. The aircraft was initially designed to use the same 55 ft span wing as the highly successful Ross-Johnson RJ-5, but with a gross weight of 1226 lb as opposed to the RJ-5's 850 lb this gave the R-6 one of the highest wing loadings for a glider of its day.

The R-6 was constructed with a metal fuselage, which was a departure from Ross's earlier designs. The passenger seat is behind the pilot's seat, aft of the wing spar and has no windows, visibility is provided by a removable plastic overhead dome. The wing features dive brakes. The wingspan was later increased to 60 ft, lowering the wing loading somewhat, but increasing the high aspect ratio to 28:1. Originally taking off from a dolly and landing on a fixed skid, the R-6 later had a retractable monowheel landing gear installed.

Operational history
In one four-day period in 1958 Ross flew the R-6 to set four records. He set new World Record marks for the multi-place glider category in 100 km, 200 km and 300 km speed triangles and also set a US National Record for out-and-return distance of 234.66 mi. Two of the three World Records exceeded the standing single-place record at the time.

In 1959, Ross flew the R-6 solo from Kent, Texas to Farley, New Mexico for his diamond distance and won the Barringer Trophy

The R-6 was later owned by Bob Storck of Waldorf, Maryland who loaned it to the National Soaring Museum, where it is currently listed as in storage.

Aircraft on display

 * National Soaring Museum - the sole example.