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Type of aircraft From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Windward Performance SparrowHawk is an American mid-wing, single-seat glider that was designed and produced by Windward Performance.[1] It first flew in 2002.[2]
SparrowHawk | |
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Three view drawing | |
Role | Glider |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Windward Performance |
First flight | 2002 |
Status | Out of Production |
Number built | 35 |
Since 2016 the aircraft has been no longer advertised as available by the manufacturer.[3]
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 155 lb (70 kg). The sailplane achieves this by utilizing a structure that is predominantly made from carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer.[1][4]
The SparrowHawk's multi-tapered, 36.1 ft (11.0 m) 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 63 to 75 in (160 to 191 cm). 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.[1][4]
The SparrowHawk achieves a best glide ratio of 36:1 and a minimum sink rate of 119 ft/min (0.60 m/s).[5]
Data from Bertrand and company website[1][5]
General characteristics
Performance
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