The Glidersport LightHawk is an American
mid-wing
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple wings.
A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing config ...
,
T-tail
A T-tail is an empennage wikt:configuration, configuration in which the tailplane of an aircraft is mounted to the top of the vertical stabilizer, fin. The arrangement looks like the capital letter T, hence the name. The T-tail differs fr ...
ed, single-seat,
microlift glider under development by
Glidersport.
[Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 135. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X]
Design and development
The LightHawk is made from composites. Its span wing employs a large wing area of to produce a low wing loading to allow the aircraft to make use of small and light sources of lift. The construction gives a very low empty weight of just .
The aircraft first flew in 2002 and
certification
Certification is part of testing, inspection and certification and the provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the product, service or system in question meets specific requirements. It is the formal attestatio ...
was initially forecast for 2011,
and then for late 2012, but had not been completed as of December 2015.
Specifications (LightHawk)
See also
References
External links
*
2000s United States sailplanes
Aircraft first flown in 2002
T-tail aircraft
Mid-wing aircraft
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