The Wittman "Tailwind" - HomeBuiltAirplanes.com

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The Wittman
"Tailwind"
come close to producing an airplane of comparable performance and cost. This one design,
if none other, should serve as
existing proof that the homebuilding trend is not just a passing fad. It can and has produced
many airplanes that will stand
up to anything comparable that
the industry could offer.
Leo J. Kohn
In laying out the design, WittPerhaps one of the finest accomplishments to date in this
home-building field lies in the
man was shooting for high performance, as well as capacity
and comfort. Being an old hand
from a midget racer.
Originally known as the "Fly-
the question of installing more
power. Some would-be bui'ders
ing
thought 85 hp. not enougli for
this airplane, and wanted to
know the feasibility of using
Carpet",
the
"Tailwind"
first flew in January of 1953.
It didn't take much longer until enough hours were logged on
the airplane to remove its local restrictions. It was then, and
still is used primarily for fast
cross-country flying, much of it
"Tailwind" design by S. J. Wittman of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Certainly in view of the few two
place home-built aircraft constructed, none comes as close to
the maximum performance as
does the "Tailwind".
By and large, it is no object
of art. It would have to go a
long way to even compare to the
classic beauty of Wittman's two
midget racers, and the many
other sport aircraft. But, the
"Tailwind" is a functional design, and effort to get the best
possible performance
higher power engines. Not certain as to just how the ship
would perform with more power,
Wittman went ahead and built
a second ship, which is one way
at this business, he was sure of
getting what he wanted. His
"Buttercup" lightplane which he
flown at night.
built in the late thirties was very
successful, end the "Tailwind"
The Ei:p!an2 featured the new
landing gear devised by Witt-
was patterned after it generally.
Many of which developed into
two of the fastest midget racers
were also incorporated, with the
man, which was tested on his
end result being a cabin airplane that isn't far ramoved
"Buttercup". This landing gear,
consisting of round tapered
spring steel, has a tendency to
flex in a 360 degree direction
frcni its setting.
of learning the answer. This
second ship had a 125 hp. Lycoming 0-290-D installed, and to
Us surprise, or just possibly his
satisfaction, the performance
difference was negligible. Engines of 85 to 90 hp. would provide just as high performance
as those cf higher horsepower.
The criginal "Tailwind" was
fitted with landing gear fairings, and also fitted with auxil-
iary fins on the horizontal surfaces, to improve control re-
for the
sponse. The second "Tailwind"
power and weight, and there is
was built with slightly larger
no doubt that that objective was
tail surfaces.
achieved.
Some of the lightplane manufacturers
must have
been
chagrined when they learned
Despite its performance, the
"Tailwind" can operate in and
out of small fields, and no small
amount of lift is gained from
the airfoil shaped fuselage. In
of Wittman's "Tailwind". With
all their experience and resources, they have never yet
the original flights, the windshield kept ballooning out, and a
Shortly after, Wittman was
pressed to provide plans for
would-be builders, and after
much thought, agreed to do so.
However, he first built a new
set of wings which were fourteen inches shorter than the
screw was set into the center
support with each subsequent
flight, and now the windshield is
secured to the center support by
a whole line of screws. A certain amount of lift was expected
by Wittman, but he outdid himself with this airplane.
original. This move was well
Though the windows seem
within the safety limits of the
small from outward appearance,
visibility is very good. The cab-
airplane, and improved its
handling characteristics.
Once the plans were made
available, Wittman was soon
again confronted, this time with
in is roomy and comfortable,
and moderately quiet. Wittman
is a tall man, and leg room is a
prerequisite in his airplanes. The
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mitters and receivers. They also
are equipped with self-starters.
Fuel is carried in a 25 gallon
tank located in front of the cabin. The wing, which utilizes a
modified 4309 section, is braced
with a single strut. Flaps are a
basic feature of the "Tailwind"
design. It has hydraulic brakes
and full steerable tail wheel. The
control stick is fashioned into a
half-wheel hand grip, with a
receptacle for a similar grip to
be inserted on the right side.
The "Tailwind" is the first
home-built aircraft to be cer-
controls are sensitive, and need
The design is simple and
sturdy, and clean in the usual
tail surfaces are built in a like
manner. The wing ribs and spar
are wood, and the wing is covered with plywood and fabric.
The fuselage, with the exception
of the nose section, is also fabric covered.
The first Tailwind" has a
pressure cowling similar to that
used on his racers, helping to
produced in Oshkosh by another
party, and a Lycoming 0-235-C
of 100 hp. was selected to power
that airplane. It too, is identical
to the original, except that it
has a different cowling because
of the different engine. The
cowling was fashioned by the
builder. This third one ended up
a little heavier, with a slight
son why it should be an easy airplane to build. The fuselage is
has a more conventional type
performance.
All are equipped with electrical systems and radio trans-
only the slighest pressure to go
to work. The landing gear eliminates a lot of bounce, and the
airplane sits snuggly on the
ground. Trim is adjustable from
the cabin, by spring tension on
the control stick.
Wittman style. This is one reaof welded steel tubing, and the
give it a good deal of its racerlike appearance. His second one
cowling. A third "Tailwind" was
though not serious reduction in
tificated to carry non-revenue
passengers under the provisions
of CAR 1.74-3.
Quite a number of "Tailwinds"
are being constructed at this
time, one of them being metallized. They will all be powered
differently, and should provide
excellent points for comparison.
They will assuredly provide
many happy hours of safe and
economical personal transportation for two. Should Wittman
decide to further improve the
design, he will do just that,
making it an even greater credit
to private aviation.