The Wittman W-8 Tailwind is a popular two-seat light aircraft for homebuilding. It is a high-wing, braced cabin monoplane of taildragger configuration. It is constructed with a steel tubing fuselage, wood wings, and fabric covering. It offers exceptional cruising speeds and is economical to operate and maintain.[1]
The Tailwind is the third in a series of high-wing aircraft designed by Sylvester J. "Steve" Wittman (1904–1995), a well-known air racing pilot and race plane designer, who also played an important role in the emergence of homebuilt aircraft with the Wittman Tailwind and other designs in the United States.[2] The first, the Wittman Buttercup two-seater, and later the Wittman Big X four-seater, which was bought by Cessna to use its spring steel landing gear. The Tailwind also inspired the last iteration, the O and O Special. A model of the 1965 Wittman Tailwind may be found in the Sun 'n Fun Museum.[3]
An inverted Oldsmobile engine used by Wittman in a Tailwind
Wittman developed the C-85 powered "Flying Carpet" in 1953, later renaming it to the "Tailwind".[4] In 1953, the Tailwind became the first aircraft covered under the FAA's Experimental category to be certified to carry a passenger. While crude looking by modern standards, it outperformed many similar factory-built planes, and only with the advent of composite construction were new designs able to achieve similar speed per horsepower and range.[5]
Steve Wittman and his wife were killed April 27, 1995 when their "O&O Special", a similar, larger and one-of-a-kind aircraft crashed. The propeller and some fabric covering from this "O&O Special" is on display in the Wittman hangar located on the Pioneer Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
^Jack Cox (September 1991). "Taperwing Tailwind". Sport Aviation.
^George Hardie, Jr. (November 1958). "Steve Wittman's New Tailwind". Sport Aviation.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 51, 897.
Airventure Museum Web site
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wittman Tailwind.
Wittman Tailwind Page at Aircraft Spruce
January 21, 2023
wittman, tailwind, wittman, tailwind, popular, seat, light, aircraft, homebuilding, high, wing, braced, cabin, monoplane, taildragger, configuration, constructed, with, steel, tubing, fuselage, wood, wings, fabric, covering, offers, exceptional, cruising, spee. The Wittman W 8 Tailwind is a popular two seat light aircraft for homebuilding It is a high wing braced cabin monoplane of taildragger configuration It is constructed with a steel tubing fuselage wood wings and fabric covering It offers exceptional cruising speeds and is economical to operate and maintain 1 Wittman TailwindWittman W 10 TailwindRole light aircraftManufacturer homebuiltDesigner Steve WittmanNumber built gt 350 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Variants 3 Specifications 1953 W 8 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDesign and development EditThe Tailwind is the third in a series of high wing aircraft designed by Sylvester J Steve Wittman 1904 1995 a well known air racing pilot and race plane designer who also played an important role in the emergence of homebuilt aircraft with the Wittman Tailwind and other designs in the United States 2 The first the Wittman Buttercup two seater and later the Wittman Big X four seater which was bought by Cessna to use its spring steel landing gear The Tailwind also inspired the last iteration the O and O Special A model of the 1965 Wittman Tailwind may be found in the Sun n Fun Museum 3 An inverted Oldsmobile engine used by Wittman in a Tailwind Wittman developed the C 85 powered Flying Carpet in 1953 later renaming it to the Tailwind 4 In 1953 the Tailwind became the first aircraft covered under the FAA s Experimental category to be certified to carry a passenger While crude looking by modern standards it outperformed many similar factory built planes and only with the advent of composite construction were new designs able to achieve similar speed per horsepower and range 5 Steve Wittman and his wife were killed April 27 1995 when their O amp O Special a similar larger and one of a kind aircraft crashed The propeller and some fabric covering from this O amp O Special is on display in the Wittman hangar located on the Pioneer Airport Oshkosh Wisconsin Aircraft Spruce amp Specialty Co of Corona California acquired the rights to the Tailwind in January 1996 and became the exclusive distributor for plans and materials 6 Variants Edit A 1965 Wittman W 8 W 8 Tailwind The W 8 initial version updated to a new designation the W 10 Overton Tailwind One example built with a 25 ft constant taper wing with wood spar foam and composite skin construction 7 W 9 Tailwind The W 9L was introduced in 1958 with a constant speed propeller 35 gallon fuel tank and a tricycle landing gear 8 Wittman W 10 Tailwind Wittman W 10 Tailwind Tailwind with tricycle landing gear W 10 Tailwind Tapered wingtips Tricycle gear version options AJEP Tailwind Marketed in the UK by AJEP in the 1970s in both kit and ready to fly form Specifications 1953 W 8 EditGeneral characteristics Crew one pilot Capacity 1 passenger Length 19 ft 3 in 5 87 m Wingspan 20 ft 11 in 6 38 m Height 5 ft 3 in 1 6 m Wing area 84 sq ft 7 8 m2 Empty weight 685 lb 311 kg Gross weight 1 235 lb 560 kg Powerplant 1 Lycoming O 320 160 hp 150 kW Performance Maximum speed 200 mph 320 km h 170 kn Range 600 mi 970 km 520 nmi Service ceiling 16 000 ft 4 900 m Rate of climb 900 ft min 4 6 m s See also EditAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Wittman Buttercup Nesmith Cougar Szaraz SDS 1A Daphne Hanson Woodwind Scott Ol Ironsides Bede BD 4 two seat versions References Edit Aircraft Spruce amp Specialty Home totalracing com Sun n Fun Museum www sun n fun org Archived from the original on 2009 02 05 Budd Davisson August 2013 15 Experimental Favorites Sport Aviation 74 Budd Davisson s Airbum Com Aircraft Spruce amp Specialty Jack Cox September 1991 Taperwing Tailwind Sport Aviation George Hardie Jr November 1958 Steve Wittman s New Tailwind Sport Aviation Taylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions pp 51 897 Airventure Museum Web siteExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wittman Tailwind Wittman Tailwind Page at Aircraft Spruce Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wittman Tailwind amp oldid 1103052724, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
