Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Wittman Tailwind

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Top speed
  
319 km/h

Wingspan
  
6.38 m

Number built
  
>350

Number of seats
  
2

Length
  
5.87 m

Unit cost
  
2,285–2,285 USD (1971)

Engine type
  
Flat-six engine

Wittman Tailwind April 2009 Sport Aviation Cover Story Mike Logbacks Tailwind

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.

Contents

Wittman Tailwind Spotted For Sale 18500 Wittman Tailwind Speed On The Cheap

Wittman tailwind


Design and development

Wittman Tailwind WITTMAN TAILWIND W10AIRCRAFT STORY from Aircraft Spruce

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. 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 http://www.sun-n-fun.org/Museum.aspx

Wittman Tailwind httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Wittman developed the C-85 powered "Flying Carpet" in 1953, later renaming it to the "Tailwind". 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.

Wittman Tailwind 1000 images about Wittman Tailwind on Pinterest Antiques The o

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. Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co of Corona, California acquired the rights to the Tailwind in January 1996 and is currently the exclusive distributor for plans and materials.

Variants

Wittman Tailwind Wittman Tailwind Wikiwand
W-8 Tailwind
The W-8 (initial version) updated to a new designation, the W-10.Overton Tailwind - One example built with a 25ft constant taper wing with wood spar, foam and composite skin construction.
W-9 Tailwind
The W-9L was introduced in 1958 with a constant speed propeller, 35 gallon fuel tank, and a 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)

General 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 ft2 (7.8 m2)
  • Empty weight: 685 lb (311 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,235 lb (560 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental C85, 85 hp (65 kW)
  • Performance

  • Maximum speed: 200 mph ( km/h)
  • Range: 600 miles (970 km)
  • Service ceiling: 16,000 ft (4,900 m)
  • Rate of climb: 900 ft/min (4.6 m/s)
  • References

    Wittman Tailwind Wikipedia