Ellison-Mahon Gweduck

The Gweduck is a re-engined "re-creation" in modern composite materials of the early 1940s Grumman G-44 Widgeon. The name can also be written Geoduck and is not named for a bird, but a large clam. Although it is broadly similar to the Widgeon and follows its cantilever high-wing monoplane, twin engined, cruciform tail and tailwheel undercarriage layout, it has more powerful engines, retractable floats, more cabin windows and is larger all around.[1][2][3]

The Gweduck's structure is formed from glass and carbon fibre. Its high wings are trapezoidal in plan, fitted with externally balanced ailerons and Fowler flaps. Each wing has a float mounted below it on a single, wide chord strut which rotates through 90° after take-off to place the float at the wing tip. A pair of 300 hp (220 kW) Lycoming IO-540 six cylinder horizontally opposed engines are mounted forward of the wing leading edge with their thrust lines above the upper surface. The Gweduck has a single step hull, with the pilots' cabin just forward of the wing leading edge; behind them, the passenger cabin has four windows on each side. Tail surfaces are straight edged, the tailplane trapezoidal and the fin leading edge swept, with a horn balanced rudder and externally mass balanced elevators. On land the Gweduck uses a conventional undercarriage, with mainwheels that retract but remain exposed in the fuselage sides and a tailwheel that retracts behind doors in the extreme rear fuselage.[1]

The first flight was on 2 May 2009 from Lake Washington. By June 2010, 200 flying hours had been logged.[4]

By April 2017, one example, the prototype, had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.[5]

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2010/12[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: Two pilots
• Capacity: 4 passengers
• Length: 34 ft 5 in (10.49 m)
• Wingspan: 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m) floats down
• Height: 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) propellers "Y"
• Wing area: 295.0 sq ft (27.41 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 7.8
• Airfoil: GA35U-A315
• Empty weight: 4,200 lb (1,905 kg) prototype
• Max takeoff weight: 5,999 lb (2,721 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 167 Imp gal (200 US gal; 758 L)
• Powerplant: 2 × Lycoming IO-540-M1B5 flat-six piston, 300 hp (220 kW) each
• Propellers: 3-bladed MT-propeller MTV-9-B-C-F-R(M)/CFR213-59

Performance

• Cruise speed: 160 mph (250 km/h, 130 kn) at 65% power at 915 m (3000 ft)
• Wing loading: 20.3 lb/sq ft (99.3 kg/m²) maximum
• Power/mass: 164 W/kg (0.10 hp/lb)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ellison-Mahon Gweduck.

• Official website