Windward Performance DuckHawk

The Windward Performance DuckHawk is an American mid-wing, single-seat, 15-metre class glider, that was designed and produced by Windward Performance of Bend, Oregon. It first flew in 2011.

Since 2016 the aircraft has been no longer advertised as available by the manufacturer.

Design and development
The DuckHawk is a development of the Windward Performance SparrowHawk and is intended as a higher performance glider than its predecessor, with very high structural limits and Vne. The DuckHawk has less than 10% parts commonality with the SparrowHawk. It features a cantilever wing, a single-seat enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy and retractable monowheel gear.

The aircraft is made from preimpregnated carbon fiber. Its 15 m span wing employs a Greg Cole-designed airfoil, has an area of 80 sqft and an aspect ratio of 30:1.

Operational history
By December 2016 four examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration, including three "V" models and one "E" model.

Variants

 * DuckHawk E
 * Electric motorglider version, first example registered with the FAA in 2011.


 * DuckHawk V (Veloce)
 * Base model with an empty weight of 390 lb, a maximum gross weight of 960 lb and load limits of +7/-5g. The first example was registered with the FAA in 2014 and three have been built.


 * DuckHawk SV (Super Veloce)
 * Proposed model with a 64% thicker spar, thicker fuselage, an empty weight of 435 lb, a maximum gross weight of 960 lb and load limits of +11/-9g. None completed.


 * DuckHawk VNX
 * Proposed model with thicker wing skins, an empty weight of 455 lb, a maximum gross weight of 1150 lb, maximum speed of 225 kn and load limits of +11/-9g. None completed.