Windward Performance SparrowHawk
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=SparrowHawk | image=Windward Performance SparrowHawk 2-view.svg | caption=Three view drawing }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Glider | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Windward Performance | designer= | first flight=2002 | introduced= | retired= | status=Out of Production | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=35 | program cost= | unit cost= US$44,500.00 (2011){{Cite web|url = http://www.windward-performance.com/pricing.php|title = Pricing and Options|accessdate = 26 October 2011|last = Windward Performance|authorlink = |date=February 2011}} | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Windward Performance SparrowHawk is an American mid-wing, single-seat glider that was designed and produced by Windward Performance.Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 60. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. {{ISSN|1368-485X}} It first flew in 2002.{{Cite web |title=J2mcL Planeurs - Fiche planeur n° |url=https://www.j2mcl-planeurs.net/dbj2mcl/planeurs-machines/planeur-fiche_0int.php?code=2457 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=www.j2mcl-planeurs.net}}
Since 2016 the aircraft has been no longer advertised as available by the manufacturer.{{cite web|url = http://windward-performance.com/|title = Windward Performance home page|accessdate = 1 December 2016|author = Windward Performance|year = 2016}}
Design and development
The SparrowHawk was designed to fit into the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category, including that category's requirement that unpowered aircraft have a maximum empty weight of {{convert|155|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. The sailplane achieves this by utilizing a structure that is predominantly made from carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer.{{Cite web|url = http://www.windward-performance.com/faq.php|title = Frequently Asked Questions|accessdate = 26 October 2011|last = Windward Performance|authorlink = |date=February 2011|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20111118185125/http://www.windward-performance.com/faq.php |archivedate = 18 November 2011}}
The SparrowHawk's multi-tapered, {{convert|36.1|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing employs five different airfoils and has an aspect ratio of 18.6:1. The wing features Schempp-Hirth style spoilers on the top surface. The cockpit can accommodate pilots who range in height from {{convert|63|to|75|in|cm|0|abbr=on}}. The landing gear is a fixed monowheel gear with an auxiliary tail wheel. The glider is finished with a two part polyurethane paint. The aircraft can be launched by auto-tow, winch-launch, or aero-tow by both light aircraft and ultralight aircraft. Aerobatics are not recommended.
The SparrowHawk achieves a best glide ratio of 36:1 and a minimum sink rate of 119 ft/min (0.60 m/s).{{Cite web|url = http://www.windward-performance.com/specifications.php|title = SparrowHawk Specifications and Performance|accessdate = 26 October 2011|last = Windward Performance|authorlink = |date=February 2011|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20111117221808/http://www.windward-performance.com/specifications.php |archivedate = 17 November 2011}}
Specifications (SparrowHawk)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Bertrand and company website
|prime units?=kts
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=20.6
|length in=
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=36.1
|span in=
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=4.5
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=70
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=18.6:1
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=155
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=415
|gross weight note=
|more general=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed kts=32
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=123
|never exceed speed note=
|g limits=+5.48/-4.0g
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=36:1 at 50 kn (58 mph; 93 km/h)
|sink rate ms=
|sink rate ftmin=119
|sink rate note=at 38 kn (44 mph; 70 km/h)
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=5.93
|wing loading note=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://windward-performance.com/?page_id=28 Official website archives] on Archive.org
{{Windward Performance aircraft}}