Aero Dynamics Sparrow Hawk

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
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

The 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

The 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]

Aircraft on display

Specifications

Data 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
  1. "FAA Registry - Aircraft - Make / Model Inquiry". registry.faa.gov. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  2. "American airplanes: Ab - Ak". www.aerofiles.com. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  3. ABPic Photo Library. "Search Results". abpic.co.uk. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  4. Gunston, Bill (2005). World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers (2nd ed.). Phoenix Mill, Gloucestershire, ENG, UK: Sutton Publishing. p. 10. ISBN 0-7509-3981-8.
  5. United Kingdom: Air League of the British Empire. 1985. pp. 429–430.
  6. Chatfield, Chris (1986). "Oshkosh Concordiale". Air-Britain Digest. 38 (1): 12, 15.
  7. "Aircraft N8707A Data". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  8. "Homebuilts Under Development". homebuilt.org. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  9. "FAA Registry - Aircraft - N-number Enquiry (N5793F)". registry.faa.gov. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  10. "FAA Registry - Aircraft - N-number Enquiry (N5832M)". registry.faa.gov. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  11. "Display Reports". Air-Britain News: 492. November 1987.
  12. "FAA Registry - Aircraft - N-number Enquiry (N8728A)". registry.faa.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  13. "Show Reports Farnborough 1988". scramble.nl. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  14. "Aircraft Data N23SH". airport-data.com. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  15. "FAA Registry - Aircraft - N-number Enquiry (N23SH)". registry.faa.gov. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
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