Eagle
Role Light aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Windecker Industries
Designer Leo and Fairfax Windecker[1]
First flight 7 October 1967[2]
Number built Two prototypes and six production aircraft[1]
Variants Windecker YE-5

The Eagle AC-7 Eagle 1 (USAF designation YE-5)[2] is an aircraft that was manufactured by Windecker Industries. It was the first composite airplane (foam and fiberglass construction) to receive FAA certification in December 1969 at a reported development cost of US$20,000,000. The fiberglass process was named "Fibaloy" by Windecker.[3]

Design and development

The Eagle's fuselage was molded in two pieces that were joined down the middle.[4] The first prototype had a fixed undercarriage but the second, known as the Eagle 1, had retractable tricycle gear. This aircraft first flew on 26 January 1969.[2] One prototype spun in on testing.[3]

Only eight Eagles were produced before production ended when the company ran out of money.[5]

No Eagle had been flying for many years, but one was restored and flown in December 2015, by Don Atchison, Mike Moore and a team commissioned by Chinese entrepreneur Wei Hang. Wei Hang holds the rights and the type certificate and plans to produce the aircraft in China for Asian sales.[1][5][6][7]

Specifications

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1971–72[8]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 3 passengers
  • Length: 28 ft 6 in (8.7 m)
  • Wingspan: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m)
  • Wing area: 167 sq ft (15.5 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 5.82:1
  • Airfoil: NACA 642415
  • Empty weight: 2,150 lb (975 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 3,400 lb (1,542 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 86 US gal (72 imp gal; 330 L)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental IO-520C air-cooled flat-six engine, 285 hp (213 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed McCauley constant-speed propeller, 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) diameter

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 211 mph (340 km/h, 183 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 204 mph (328 km/h, 177 kn)
  • Stall speed: 66 mph (106 km/h, 57 kn) (flaps down)
  • Never exceed speed: 260 mph (420 km/h, 230 kn)
  • Range: 1,232 mi (1,983 km, 1,071 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 18,000 ft (5,500 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,220 ft/min (6.2 m/s)
  • Takeoff run to 50 ft (15 m): 1,310 ft (399 m)
  • Landing run from 50 ft (15 m): 1,330 ft (405 m)

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 "Windecker Eagle Restoration Making Progress". avweb.com. July 17, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Taylor 1974, pp. 481–482
  3. 1 2 "The Loaners". Flying: 52. May 1976.
  4. ↑ Mark Phelps (April 2013). "Composite Airplanes". Sport Aviation: 82.
  5. 1 2 "Windecker Eagle Flies, Heads To China". AVweb. December 19, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  6. ↑ Kauh, Elaine (April 10, 2015). "Windecker Eagle Restoration Underway". avweb.com. Aviation Publishing Group. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  7. ↑ Garvey, William (April 17, 2015). "First All-Composite Aircraft Being Readied To Fly Again". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  8. ↑ Taylor 1971, pp. 422–423

Bibliography

  • Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1971). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1971–72. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd. ISBN 0-354-00094-2.
  • Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1974). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1974-75. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 0-354-00502-2.
  • Burmeier, Beverly. "Plastic Fantastic." The History Channel Magazine, September/October, 2005, pp. 22–23.
  • "The Eagle Returns", Private Pilot Magazine, Sept. 1978.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.