Windward Performance DuckHawk

DuckHawk
Role	Glider
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Windward Performance
First flight	2011
Status	Production completed (2016)
Developed from	Windward Performance SparrowHawk

The Windward Performance DuckHawk is an American mid-wing, single-seat, 15-metre class glider, that was designed and produced by Windward Performance of Bend, Oregon.^[1] It first flew in 2011.^[2]

Since 2016 the aircraft has been no longer advertised as available by the manufacturer.^[3]

Design and development

The DuckHawk is a development of the Windward Performance SparrowHawk and is intended as a higher performance glider than its predecessor, with very high structural limits and V_ne. The DuckHawk has less than 10% parts commonality with the SparrowHawk. It features a cantilever wing, a single-seat enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy and retractable monowheel gear.^[1]^[4]

The aircraft is made from preimpregnated carbon fiber. Its 15 m (49.2 ft) span wing employs a Greg Cole-designed airfoil, has an area of 80 sq ft (7.4 m²) and an aspect ratio of 30:1.^[1]^[5]

Operational history

By December 2016 four examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration, including three "V" models and one "E" model.^[6]

Variants

DuckHawk E: Electric motorglider version, first example registered with the FAA in 2011.^[7]
DuckHawk V (Veloce): Base model with an empty weight of 390 lb (180 kg), a maximum gross weight of 960 lb (440 kg) and load limits of +7/-5g. The first example was registered with the FAA in 2014 and three have been built.^[4]^[6]^[8]
DuckHawk SV (Super Veloce): Proposed model with a 64% thicker spar, thicker fuselage, an empty weight of 435 lb (197 kg), a maximum gross weight of 960 lb (440 kg) and load limits of +11/-9g. None completed.^[4]^[6]^[8]
DuckHawk VNX: Proposed model with thicker wing skins, an empty weight of 455 lb (206 kg), a maximum gross weight of 1,150 lb (520 kg), maximum speed of 225 kn (417 km/h) and load limits of +11/-9g. None completed.^[4]^[6]^[8]

Specifications (DuckHawk V)

Data from Bayerl and Windward Performance^[1]^[4]^[8]

General characteristics

Crew: one
Length: 20.6 ft (6.3 m)
Wingspan: 49.2 ft (15.0 m)
Height: 3 ft 8 in (1.12 m)
Wing area: 80 sq ft (7.4 m²)
Aspect ratio: 30:1
Airfoil: Greg Cole-designed
Empty weight: 390 lb (177 kg)
Gross weight: 960 lb (435 kg)

Performance

Never exceed speed: 193 mph (311 km/h, 168 kn)
g limits: +7/-5g
Maximum glide ratio: 50:1
Wing loading: 12 lb/sq ft (59 kg/m²)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 138. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
^ "J2mcL Planeurs - Fiche planeur n°". www.j2mcl-planeurs.net. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
^ Windward Performance (2016). "Windward Performance home page". Retrieved December 1, 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Windward Performance (2011). "DuckHawk features". Retrieved August 25, 2015.
^ Windward Performance (2011). "DuckHawk". Retrieved December 4, 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Federal Aviation Administration (December 4, 2012). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved December 4, 2012.
^ Federal Aviation Administration (December 4, 2012). "N-Number Inquiry Results - N10WP". Retrieved December 4, 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Windward Performance (2011). "Specs" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2015.