Whigham GW-7
| GW-7 | |
|---|---|
| Role | Glider |
| National origin | United States |
| Designer | Gene Whigham |
| First flight | 1987 |
| Status | No longer in production |
| Number built | one |
The Whigham GW-7 is an American mid-wing, single-seat, 15 metre class glider that was designed and constructed by Gene Whigham, a retired Convair flight test engineer.[1][2]
Design and development
[edit]Whigham's last glider design was the GW-7. The aircraft was completed and first flew in 1987.[1][2]
The GW-7 is of all metal construction, has a 15 m (49.2 ft) wing span and employs a NASA NLF(1)-0215F airfoil. The flaps and ailerons are interconnected. The flaps travel +/-10° in normal flight in concert with the ailerons and then can be deployed to 60° for glidepath control on landing.[1][3]
Only one GW-7 was constructed and it was registered with the Federal Aviation Administration as an Experimental - Amateur-built.[2]
Operational history
[edit]In July 2011 the sole GW-7 built was still on the FAA registry and owned by Donald Macey of Fallon, Nevada.[2]
Specifications (GW-7)
[edit]Data from Sailplane Directory[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Wingspan: 49 ft 3 in (15.0 m)
- Wing area: 92 sq ft (8.5 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 27:1
- Airfoil: NASA NLF(1)-0215F
- Empty weight: 333 lb (151 kg)
- Gross weight: 532 lb (241 kg)
Performance
- Maximum glide ratio: 39:1 at 48 mph (77 km/h)
- Rate of sink: 110 ft/min (0.56 m/s)
- Wing loading: 5.78 lb/sq ft (28.2 kg/m2)
See also
[edit]Related lists
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Activate Media (2006). "GW-7 Whigham". Retrieved July 5, 2011.
- ^ a b c d Federal Aviation Administration (July 2011). "Make / Model Inquiry Results N6198". Retrieved July 5, 2011.
- ^ Lednicer, David (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". Archived from the original on April 20, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2011.