Greg Cole at Windward has been talking about these developments for a while
now, and had the Duckhawk (at that point still bare Cabon) on display at the
SSA convention in Reno.
Perhaps one of the first pilots to fly the 200Kts+ version hard will be Jim
Payne. Jim already has seven World records in Greg's personal Sparrowhawk "GC",
the yellow one seen in their ads and which many of us have flown. Look for some
new 15m World records with the arrival of the faster Duckhawk.Jim tried the
Sparrowhawk in Sierra wave conditions, but it didn't have sufficient high speed
performance... Part of the feedback loop driving the Duckhawk.
There is at least one Sparrowhawk in Australia, owned by Morgan Sandercock.
Once you see it, the "pregnant" cockpit makes more sense. The rest of it is
TINY! And unlike the Diana, the pilot can be comfortable. The weights achieved
with prepreg construction are amazing. You can hold a Sparrowhawk wing under
one arm - if the wind isn't blowing!
And of course, they will be working on a self-launch version.But like ASH25J
"GO" and Mike's jet project, these developments don't happen overnight.
Jim
________________________________
From: Mike Borgelt <[email protected]>
To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.
<[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2012 1:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Duckhawk
At 05:26 PM 21/05/2012, you wrote:
On Mon, May 21, 2012 at
01:57:31PM +1000, Mike Borgelt wrote:
>
> > Looks like our American friends may have built a fully
competitive
> > 15M sailplane
>
>The Duckhawk? Yes.
With an aspect ratio of 30 and carbon pre preg construction and empty
weight of about 220Kg this a welcome development against the trend to
ever higher weights.
I have no idea what they are trying to do with the higher gross weight
versions with Vne of 200 knots +.
I hope they will do an 18M version by stretching the wing (same chords
and sections just further apart. Might have to lengthen the tail
boom)
The 960 lb version will make a nice self launcher with a couple of BF
Turbine 30 Kg thrust jets. 58Kg/sq m so should be good at high speed.
Would be really interesting with a Ventus A type fuselage and T
tail.
At 70 Kg it will likely stall at 50 knots straight and level. You are
going to be circling at 65 - 70 knots.
My jet project is still progressing. Tanks built and installed (BIG job),
plumbing in, battery boxes installed.
Engine installation next. New simplified retract method.
Mike
There's been some chat about it
on the Waikerie Gliding Club mailing
>list.
>
>Vendor claims it does 50:1 at 71 knots at 960lb (55 knots at
600lb).
>
>The Duckhawk VNX variant (same aircraft as the entry level, but with
>thicker skins and more carbon in the spar) has a 225 kts VNE and is
>stressed to +11/-9g.
>
>Not a typo.
>
>http://windward-performance.com/projects/duckhawk/specs/
>
> - mark
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Borgelt Instruments- design & manufacture of quality soaring
instrumentation since 1978
www.borgeltinstruments.com
tel: 07 4635
5784 overseas: int+61-7-4635
5784
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5784
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