Whigham GW-1
{{Short description|American glider}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=GW-1 | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Glider | national origin=United States | manufacturer= | designer=Gene Whigham | first flight=1959 | introduced= | retired= | status=No longer in production | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=One | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Whigham GW-1 is an American high-wing, single-seat glider that was designed and constructed by Gene Whigham, a retired flight test engineer for Convair.{{Cite web|url = http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?PlaneID=130|title = GW-1 Whigham |accessdate = 4 July 2011|last = Activate Media|authorlink = |year = 2006}}Said, Bob: 1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, page 66, Soaring Society of America November 1983. USPS 499-920{{Cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=343L|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results N343L|accessdate = 4 July 2011|last = Federal Aviation Administration|authorlink = |date=July 2011}}
Design and development
The GW-1 was built in concert with the Tweed GT-1 as both builders shared ideas and tools. The two aircraft share some common design features, although their wings are completely different. The GW-1 first flew in 1959 and at that time had a {{convert|40|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} wingspan.
The GW-1's wings were extended in 1961 with new tips to {{convert|44.5|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}. The constant-chord wing features a NACA 23018 airfoil and flaps of 25% chord and {{convert|22|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} span. The aircraft's construction is all-metal, except for the fiberglass nose.{{Cite web|url = http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|title = The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage|accessdate = 4 July 2011|last = Lednicer|first = David|authorlink = |year = 2010|archive-date = April 20, 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100420012244/http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|url-status = dead}}
Only one GW-1 was built and it was registered in the Experimental Amateur-built category.
Operational history
The GW-1 was used to complete a diamond badge goal flight in 1961.
In July 2011, some 52 years after its completion, the aircraft was still on the Federal Aviation Administration registry and owned by John Coughlin of Del Rio, Texas.
Specifications (GW-1)
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|ref=Sailplane Directory and Soaring
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|span ft=44
|span in=6
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|wing area sqft=107
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|aspect ratio=18.5:1
|airfoil=NACA 23018
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=340
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|gross weight lb=540
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|glide ratio=29 at {{convert|55|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
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|wing loading lb/sqft=5.0
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See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Gene Whigham aircraft}}
Category:1950s United States sailplanes