Wittman Tailwind
{{Infobox aircraft
| name = Wittman Tailwind
| image = Tailwindtaxi.jpg
| caption = Wittman W-10 Tailwind
| type = light aircraft
| manufacturer = homebuilt
| designer = Steve Wittman
| first_flight =
| introduction =
| retired =
| status =
| primary_user =
| more_users =
| produced =
| number_built = >350
| unit cost = approximately $2285 to build in 1971{{Cite journal|journal=Air Trails|date=Winter 1971|title=The true cost of building your own plane|author=Leo J. Kohn|page=63}}
| variants =
}}
The Wittman Tailwind is a popular two-seat light aircraft for homebuilding. It is a high-wing, braced cabin monoplane of taildragger configuration. It is constructed with a steel tubing fuselage, wood wings, and fabric covering. It offers exceptional cruising speeds and is economical to operate and maintain.Aircraft Spruce & Specialty
== Design and development ==
The Tailwind is the third in a series of high-wing aircraft designed by Sylvester J. "Steve" Wittman (1904–1995), a well-known air racing pilot and race plane designer, who also played an important role in the emergence of homebuilt aircraft with the Wittman Tailwind and other designs in the United States.{{cite web |url=http://www.totalracing.com/ |title=Home |website=totalracing.com}} The first, the Wittman Buttercup two-seater, and later the Wittman Big X four-seater, which was bought by Cessna to use its spring steel landing gear. The Tailwind also inspired the last iteration, the O and O Special. A model of the 1965 Wittman Tailwind may be found in the Sun 'n Fun Museum.{{cite web |url=http://www.sun-n-fun.org/Museum.aspx |title=Sun n' Fun » Museum |website=www.sun-n-fun.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205151401/http://sun-n-fun.org/Museum.aspx |archive-date=2009-02-05}}
Wittman developed the C-85 powered "Flying Carpet" in 1953, later renaming it to the "Tailwind".{{Cite journal|journal=Sport Aviation|date=August 2013|page=74|title=15 Experimental Favorites|author=Budd Davisson}} In 1953, the Tailwind became the first aircraft covered under the FAA's Experimental category to be certified to carry a passenger. While crude looking by modern standards, it outperformed many similar factory-built planes, and only with the advent of composite construction were new designs able to achieve similar speed per horsepower and range.Budd Davisson's Airbum.Com
Steve Wittman and his wife were killed April 27, 1995 when their "O&O Special", a similar, larger and one-of-a-kind aircraft crashed. The propeller and some fabric covering from this "O&O Special" is on display in the Wittman hangar located on the Pioneer Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co of Corona, California acquired the rights to the Tailwind in January 1996 and became the exclusive distributor for plans and materials.Aircraft Spruce & Specialty
== Variants ==
;W-8 Tailwind
:The W-8 (initial version) updated to a new designation, the W-10.
:Overton Tailwind — One example built with a 25 ft constant taper wing with wood spar, foam and composite skin construction.{{Cite journal | journal=Sport Aviation | date=September 1991 | title=Taperwing Tailwind | author=Jack Cox}}
;W-9 Tailwind
:The W-9L was introduced in 1958 with a constant-speed propeller, 35 gallon fuel tank, and a tricycle landing gear.{{Cite journal | journal=Sport Aviation | date=November 1958 | title=Steve Wittman's New Tailwind | author=George Hardie, Jr.}}
;W-10 Tailwind
:Tapered wingtips, Tricycle gear version options
;AJEP Tailwind
:Marketed in the UK by AJEP in the 1970s in both kit and ready-to-fly form.
== Specifications (1953 W.8) ==
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units? = imp
| crew = one pilot
| capacity = 1 passenger
| length m = 5.87
| length ft = 19
| length in = 3
| span m = 6.38
| span ft = 20
| span in = 11
| height m = 1.6
| height ft = 5
| height in = 3
| wing area sqm = 7.8
| wing area sqft = 84
| empty weight kg = 311
| empty weight lb = 685
| gross weight kg = 560
| gross weight lb = 1,235
| eng1 number = 1
| eng1 name = Lycoming O-320
| eng1 kw = 150
| eng1 hp = 160
| max speed mph = 200
| range km = 970
| range miles = 600
| ceiling m = 4,900
| ceiling ft = 16,000
| climb rate ms = 4.6
| climb rate ftmin = 900
}}
== See also ==
{{Aircontent
| related =
| similar aircraft =
- Wittman Buttercup
- Nesmith Cougar
- Szaraz SDS-1A Daphne
- Hanson Woodwind
- Scott Ol' Ironsides
- Bede BD-4 (two-seat versions)
| lists =
| see also =
}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
- {{Cite book | last=Taylor | first=Michael J. H. | title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 | publisher=Studio Editions | location=London | pages=51, 897}}
- [http://www.airventuremuseum.org/collection/aircraft/Wittman%20Tailwind%20W-8C%20Specifications.asp Airventure Museum Web site]
== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/kitspages/wittail.php Wittman Tailwind Page at Aircraft Spruce]
{{Wittman aircraft}}