Whigham GW-3

The GW-3 was designed by Whigham as a glider that would be easy for a first time builder to complete and fly. As such the design emphasizes simplicity of construction to reduce building time. The GW-4 was a higher wing loading development.

The GW-3 and 4 both use a {{convert|54|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} wing, with a NACA 43012A airfoil. The aircraft are all-metal, with the portion of the wing aft of the spar covered in doped aircraft fabric. The flaps and ailerons are sheet metal covered. The wing design is unusual as it uses a single spar and transmits its torsion and drag loads via a thick leading edge skin. This resulted in wings that weigh {{convert|100|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} each. The prototype GW-3 weighed {{convert|380|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} empty in total.

The prototype GW-3 was involved in an accident on 9 July 1992 when downdrafts were encountered in mountainous terrain. The aircraft was unable to return to the airport and crashed, resulting in serious injury to the pilot. It was removed from the Federal Aviation Administration registry on 13 September 1997 and listed as "destroyed".{{Cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=3705|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results N3705|accessdate = 5 July 2011|last = Federal Aviation Administration|authorlink = |date=July 2011}}{{Cite web|url = https://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001211X15188&key=1|title = NTSB Identification: LAX92LA290|accessdate = 5 July 2011|last = National Transportation Safety Board|authorlink = |date=June 1993}}

;GW-3

:Initial version with a {{convert|380|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} empty weight and {{convert|695|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} gross weight. One built and it was crashed on 9 July 1992, listed as destroyed and removed from the FAA registry 13 September 1997.

;GW-4

:Development of the GW-3 with higher wing loading, achieved with the same wing, but a higher gross weight of {{convert|760|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. One built and as of July 2011 this aircraft is no longer on the FAA registry.{{Cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=WHIGHAM&Modeltxt=GW-4&PageNo=1 |title = Make / Model Inquiry Results GW-4|accessdate = 5 July 2011|last = Federal Aviation Administration|authorlink = |date=July 2011}}

;GW-4A

:Development of the GW-3. One built in 1977 and, as of July 2011, this aircraft remains on the FAA registry.{{Cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=24GW|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results N24GW|accessdate = 5 July 2011|last = Federal Aviation Administration|authorlink = |date=July 2011}}

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• List of gliders

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{{Gene Whigham aircraft}}

Category:1960s United States sailplanes

Category:Homebuilt aircraft

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1965

Category:Mid-wing aircraft