Wittman 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.[2]

Wittman Tailwind
Wittman W-10 Tailwind
Role light aircraft
Manufacturer homebuilt
Designer Steve Wittman
Number built >350
Unit cost
approximately $2285 to build in 1971[1]

Design and development

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.[3] 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.[4]

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".[5] 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.[6]

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 became the exclusive distributor for plans and materials.[7]

Variants
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.[8]
W-9 Tailwind
The W-9L was introduced in 1958 with a constant-speed propeller, 35 gallon fuel tank, and a tricycle landing gear.[9]
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)

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 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)
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See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References
  1. Leo J. Kohn (Winter 1971). "The true cost of building your own plane". Air Trails: 63.
  2. Aircraft Spruce & Specialty
  3. http://www.totalracing.com
  4. http://www.sun-n-fun.org/Museum.aspx
  5. Budd Davisson (August 2013). "15 Experimental Favorites". Sport Aviation: 74.
  6. Budd Davisson's Airbum.Com
  7. Aircraft Spruce & Specialty
  8. Jack Cox (September 1991). "Taperwing Tailwind". Sport Aviation.
  9. George Hardie, Jr. (November 1958). "Steve Wittman's New Tailwind". Sport Aviation.
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