The Whigham GW-2 is an American
high-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 ...
, single-seat,
V-tail
The V-tail or ''vee-tail'' (sometimes called a butterfly tail or Rudlicki's V-tailGudmundsson S. (2013). "General Aviation Aircraft Design: Applied Methods and Procedures" (Reprint). Butterworth-Heinemann. p. 489. , 9780123973290) of an aircraf ...
ed,
FAI Open Class glider that was designed and constructed by
Gene Whigham, a retired flight test engineer for
Convair
Convair, previously Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation, was an American aircraft-manufacturing company that later expanded into rockets and spacecraft. The company was formed in 1943 by the merger of Consolidated Aircraft and Vultee ...
.
[Said, Bob: ''1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine'', page 67, ]Soaring Society of America
The Soaring Society of America (SSA) was founded at the instigation of Warren E. Eaton to promote the sport of soaring in the USA and internationally. The first meeting was held in New York City in the McGraw–Hill Building on February 20, 193 ...
November 1983. USPS 499-920
Design and development
The GW-2 was intended as a model that improved upon the performance of the
GW-1. To that end it uses a span wing with a much higher
aspect ratio
The aspect ratio of a geometry, geometric shape is the ratio of its sizes in different dimensions. For example, the aspect ratio of a rectangle is the ratio of its longer side to its shorter side—the ratio of width to height, when the rectangl ...
of 26:1 and a Wortmann FX 61-184
airfoil
An airfoil (American English) or aerofoil (British English) is a streamlined body that is capable of generating significantly more Lift (force), lift than Drag (physics), drag. Wings, sails and propeller blades are examples of airfoils. Foil (fl ...
. The GW-2 also uses a V-tail.
The GW-2 is an all-metal design, with doped
aircraft fabric covering
Aircraft fabric covering is a term used for both the material used and the process of covering aircraft open structures. It is also used for reinforcing closed plywood structures. The de Havilland Mosquito is an example of this technique, as are ...
on the aft part of the wing, behind the
spar. The wing mounts
spoilers for glide-path control. The landing gear is a fixed monowheel, with a secondary skid.
The prototype GW-2 was registered as N94291 and first flown in 1964. A second GW-2 was also completed.
Operational history
The prototype GW-1 was flown in three US National competitions.
In July 2011 one GW-2 remained on the
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government agency within the United States Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates civil aviation in t ...
registry.
Specifications (GW-2)
See also
References
1960s United States sailplanes
Homebuilt aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1964
V-tail aircraft
High-wing aircraft
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