Windecker Eagle

The Eagle AC-7 Eagle 1 (USAF designation YE-5)^[2] is an aircraft that was manufactured by Windecker Industries. It was the first composite airplane (foam and fiberglass construction) to receive FAA certification in December 1969 at a reported development cost of US$20,000,000. The fiberglass process was named "Fibaloy" by Windecker.^[3]

Eagle
Role	Light aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Windecker Industries
Designer	Leo and Fairfax Windecker[1]
First flight	7 October 1967[2]
Number built	Two prototypes and six production aircraft[1]
Variants	Windecker YE-5

Design and development

The Eagle's fuselage was molded in two pieces that were joined down the middle.^[4] The first prototype had a fixed undercarriage but the second, known as the Eagle 1, had retractable tricycle gear. This aircraft first flew on 26 January 1969.^[2] One prototype spun in on testing.^[3]

Only eight Eagles were produced before production ended when the company ran out of money.^[5]

No Eagle had been flying for many years, but one was restored and flown in December 2015, by Don Atchison, Mike Moore and a team commissioned by Chinese entrepreneur Wei Hang. Wei Hang holds the rights and the type certificate and plans to produce the aircraft in China for Asian sales.^[1][5][6][7]

Specifications

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1971–72^[8]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 3 passengers
• Length: 28 ft 6 in (8.7 m)
• Wingspan: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
• Height: 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m)
• Wing area: 167 sq ft (15.5 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 5.82:1
• Airfoil: NACA 64₂415
• Empty weight: 2,150 lb (975 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 3,400 lb (1,542 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 86 US gal (72 imp gal; 330 L)
• Powerplant: 1 × Continental IO-520C air-cooled flat-six engine, 285 hp (213 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed McCauley constant-speed propeller, 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) diameter

Performance

• Maximum speed: 211 mph (340 km/h, 183 kn)
• Cruise speed: 204 mph (328 km/h, 177 kn)
• Stall speed: 66 mph (106 km/h, 57 kn) (flaps down)
• Never exceed speed: 260 mph (420 km/h, 230 kn)
• Range: 1,232 mi (1,983 km, 1,071 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 18,000 ft (5,500 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,220 ft/min (6.2 m/s)
• Takeoff run to 50 ft (15 m): 1,310 ft (399 m)
• Landing run from 50 ft (15 m): 1,330 ft (405 m)