The Aero Dynamics Sparrow Hawk MK II is an American homebuilt, two seater,[1] single-engine, pusher monoplane, manufactured by Aero Dynamics Limited. It was designed by former Boeing design engineer Charles "Chuck" Herbst.[2][3][4]
| Aero Dynamics Sparrow Hawk | |
|---|---|
| |
| Sparrow Hawk (G-BOZU, not marked, arrived by road) at a fly-in at Wroughton Airfield in July 1992 | |
| Role | Kit aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Aero Dynamics Limited |
| Designer | Charles "Chuck" Herbst |
| Introduction | 1985 |
| Number built | 7 |
Design and development
editThe Sparrow Hawk is a twin boom, twin fin, ultralight aircraft built with mixed construction materials most notably including Kevlar, carbon fiber and polyurethane foam.[5][6] It uses a Rotax 532 two-stroke aircraft engine in pusher configuration.[7] It employs a cantilever, shoulder wing, fixed landing gear and a two-seat enclosed cockpit.[2]
In 2022, Sparrow Hawk Aviation Ltd announced that they had plans to redesign and improve the Sparrow Hawk, though no redesigns have been made to the aircraft design yet.[8]
Operational history
editThe Sparrow Hawk had its official public debut in July 1985 at the EAA Annual Convention and Fly-In, as two Sparrow Hawks, registered as N5793F and N5832M, attended.[6] The manufacturer and model of N5793F is recorded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an "Ultralight Aircraft Ltd Sparrow Hawk Mk II",[9] while N5832M is recorded as an "Aero Dynamics Ltd Sparrow Hawk MkII".[10]
A Sparrow Hawk (registered N8728A) was displayed at the Air Display and Air Races event at Cranfield Aerodrome in the United Kingdom, on 20 September 1987.[11][12] The same aircraft was exhibited at the SBAC-organized Farnborough Airshow in September 1988.[13]
Known aircraft on display
edit- Oakland Aviation Museum - Sparrow Hawk N23SH.[14][15]
Specifications
editData from Aerofiles[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Length: 17 ft 10 in (5.44 m)
- Wingspan: 34 ft 5 in (10.49 m)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 532 four cylinder, liquid-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 64 hp (48 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 105–130 mph (169–209 km/h, 91–113 kn)
- Cruise speed: 95–120 mph (153–193 km/h, 83–104 kn)
- Stall speed: 36 mph (58 km/h, 31 kn)
References
edit- ^ "FAA Registry - Aircraft - Make / Model Inquiry". registry.faa.gov. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ a b c "American airplanes: Ab - Ak". www.aerofiles.com. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ ABPic Photo Library. "Search Results". abpic.co.uk. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
- ^ Gunston, Bill (2005). World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers (2nd ed.). Phoenix Mill, Gloucestershire, ENG, UK: Sutton Publishing. p. 10. ISBN 0-7509-3981-8.
- ^ United Kingdom: Air League of the British Empire. 1985. pp. 429–430.
- ^ a b Chatfield, Chris (1986). "Oshkosh Concordiale". Air-Britain Digest. 38 (1): 12, 15.
- ^ "Aircraft N8707A Data". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
- ^ "Homebuilts Under Development". homebuilt.org. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
- ^ "FAA Registry - Aircraft - N-number Enquiry (N5793F)". registry.faa.gov. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "FAA Registry - Aircraft - N-number Enquiry (N5832M)". registry.faa.gov. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "Display Reports". Air-Britain News: 492. November 1987.
- ^ "FAA Registry - Aircraft - N-number Enquiry (N8728A)". registry.faa.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ "Show Reports Farnborough 1988". scramble.nl. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ "Aircraft Data N23SH". airport-data.com. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
- ^ "FAA Registry - Aircraft - N-number Enquiry (N23SH)". registry.faa.gov. Retrieved March 31, 2022.