Duckhawk wins

On Sunday, May 27, 2012 1:37:20 AM UTC-4, Wade wrote:

The version chip was flying for the contest was the DuckHawk SV. The
max gross weight is 960 LB and he never flew above 880 LB during the
contest.
Thanks,
Wade

Which means that he was essentially flying at 11 lbs wingloading if the 80sq ft wing area listed on the Website is accurate. That's pretty amazing considering we rarely had more than 3-4kts of often broken lift. I never went with more than 9lbs in my LS8, and that was often too much. I know Chip didn't carry all of the water all the time, but still...

On 5/27/2012 7:23 AM, Papa3 wrote:
On Sunday, May 27, 2012 1:37:20 AM UTC-4, Wade wrote:

The version chip was flying for the contest was the DuckHawk SV.
The max gross weight is 960 LB and he never flew above 880 LB
during the contest. Thanks, Wade

Which means that he was essentially flying at 11 lbs wingloading if
the 80sq ft wing area listed on the Website is accurate. That's
pretty amazing considering we rarely had more than 3-4kts of often
broken lift. I never went with more than 9lbs in my LS8, and that
was often too much. I know Chip didn't carry all of the water all
the time, but still...

The 80 sq feet is accurate! It provides the DuckHawk with an amazing
(for a 15 meter glider) 30:1 aspect ratio. The relatively light weight
of the glider due to the the small size and carbon pre-preg construction
gives is a significantly lighter span loading than an ASW 27, etc glider:

DuckHawk at 11 lbs/sq ft = 17.6 lbs/foot span loading
ASW 27 at 11 lbs/sq ft = 21.3 lbs/foot span loading

We're all used to thinking in terms of wing loading, but Greg Cole told
me the span loading is the important factor for thermalling - lighter is
better.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)

I have to send my congratulations to Chip for flying a great contest and to Greg for designing a great sailplane! I crewed for Chip during the race and we were both impressed with the DH's ability to climb with ballast in weak conditions. Our official weight was generally about 864 lbs after ballasting in the morning and yes Chip did have to dump ballast in very weak conditions or saves but he was able to fly the entire task with ballast on several days. Considering that Chip had one flight in the DH and the DH only had 12 flights under its belt before Mifflin the performance was amazing. And we were learning more about the DH as the contest progressed. Chip was trying a variety of thermaling speeds and flap settings to get the best performance. The DH has a wide range of speeds in thermals and feels "light" even with ballast with a good sense for changes in the thermal during climb. Chip's performance in the DH got better over the contest and I am sure that his score would have been better if he had started with the experience he gained by the end of the contest. All in all this glider performed well "right out of the box" and will only get better has we tweak things like internal and external seals and flying styles.
Bill Thar

On Wednesday, May 30, 2012 1:16:38 AM UTC-4, Eric Greenwell wrote:
On 5/27/2012 7:23 AM, Papa3 wrote:
On Sunday, May 27, 2012 1:37:20 AM UTC-4, Wade wrote:

The version chip was flying for the contest was the DuckHawk SV.
The max gross weight is 960 LB and he never flew above 880 LB
during the contest. Thanks, Wade

Which means that he was essentially flying at 11 lbs wingloading if
the 80sq ft wing area listed on the Website is accurate. That's
pretty amazing considering we rarely had more than 3-4kts of often
broken lift. I never went with more than 9lbs in my LS8, and that
was often too much. I know Chip didn't carry all of the water all
the time, but still...

The 80 sq feet is accurate! It provides the DuckHawk with an amazing
(for a 15 meter glider) 30:1 aspect ratio. The relatively light weight
of the glider due to the the small size and carbon pre-preg construction
gives is a significantly lighter span loading than an ASW 27, etc glider:

DuckHawk at 11 lbs/sq ft = 17.6 lbs/foot span loading
ASW 27 at 11 lbs/sq ft = 21.3 lbs/foot span loading

We're all used to thinking in terms of wing loading, but Greg Cole told
me the span loading is the important factor for thermalling - lighter is
better.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)

I decided to take a look at the National 15 meter contest photograph section
located on SSA contest reports page. Guess what??? There weren't any
pictures of the Duckhawk!!! (Unless you can pick it out of the gaggle
photo.)

Wayne



"Richard Walters" wrote in message
. com...

Congratulations to Windward Performance and their new
Duckhawk, and Chip Garner for being the USA champion in the
15m nationals at Mifflin. Congrats also to Jerzy S for the overall
win.
Rick W

On May 22, 4:26*pm, "Wayne Paul" wrote:
I decided to take a look at the National 15 meter contest photograph section
located on SSA contest reports page. *Guess what??? There weren't any
pictures of the Duckhawk!!! (Unless you can pick it out of the gaggle
photo.)

Wayne

"Richard Walters" *wrote in message

. com...

Congratulations to Windward Performance and their new
Duckhawk, and Chip Garner for being the USA champion in the
15m nationals at Mifflin. Congrats also to Jerzy S for the overall
win.
Rick W

There is one on the Windward Performance website that I think was
taken at the contest.

Another congratulations here to Chip Garner for winning the Nationals in an American made glider.

Tonight I had dinner with Ross Briegleb. Ross was the the first to win a Nationals in an American made ship, a Laister Nugget. It was 37 years ago at the U.S. Standard Class Soaring Championships, Minden.

Walt Rogers, WX

On Tuesday, May 22, 2012 6:55:43 AM UTC-7, Richard Walters wrote:
Congratulations to Windward Performance and their new
Duckhawk, and Chip Garner for being the USA champion in the
15m nationals at Mifflin. Congrats also to Jerzy S for the overall
win.
Rick W

On Tuesday, May 22, 2012 11:58:18 PM UTC-7, WaltWX wrote:
Another congratulations here to Chip Garner for winning the Nationals in an American made glider.

Tonight I had dinner with Ross Briegleb. Ross was the the first to win a Nationals in an American made ship, a Laister Nugget. It was 37 years ago at the U.S. Standard Class Soaring Championships, Minden.

Walt Rogers, WX

On Tuesday, May 22, 2012 6:55:43 AM UTC-7, Richard Walters wrote:
Congratulations to Windward Performance and their new
Duckhawk, and Chip Garner for being the USA champion in the
15m nationals at Mifflin. Congrats also to Jerzy S for the overall
win.
Rick W

Nice to see Chip and Windward performance debut so well with the Duckhawk. Great to see gliders being built in the USA.

Now what would be interesting would be to see the Duckhawk mix it up with the big-wings (and many 18m ships as well) on some strong days at the Minden open class contest....

Darryl

On May 23, 1:24*am, Darryl Ramm wrote:
On Tuesday, May 22, 2012 11:58:18 PM UTC-7, WaltWX wrote:
Another congratulations here to Chip Garner for winning the Nationals in an American made glider.

Tonight I had dinner with Ross Briegleb. Ross was the the first to win a Nationals in an American made ship, a Laister Nugget. It was 37 years ago at the U.S. Standard Class Soaring Championships, Minden.

Walt Rogers, WX

On Tuesday, May 22, 2012 6:55:43 AM UTC-7, Richard Walters wrote:
Congratulations to Windward Performance and their new
Duckhawk, and Chip Garner for being the USA champion in the
15m nationals at Mifflin. Congrats also to Jerzy S for the overall
win.
Rick W

Nice to see Chip and Windward performance debut so well with the Duckhawk.. Great to see gliders being built in the USA.

Now what would be interesting would be to see the Duckhawk mix it up with the big-wings (and many 18m ships as well) on some strong days at the Minden open class contest....

Darryl

Well hopefully it will peak your interest to know that Chip will be
flying the DuckHawk at the 2012 Open Class Nationals in Minden. Should
be a lot of fun!

On Saturday, May 26, 2012 10:42:35 PM UTC-7, Wade wrote:
On May 23, 1:24*am, Darryl Ramm wrote:
On Tuesday, May 22, 2012 11:58:18 PM UTC-7, WaltWX wrote:
Another congratulations here to Chip Garner for winning the Nationals in an American made glider.

Tonight I had dinner with Ross Briegleb. Ross was the the first to win a Nationals in an American made ship, a Laister Nugget. It was 37 years ago at the U.S. Standard Class Soaring Championships, Minden.

Walt Rogers, WX

On Tuesday, May 22, 2012 6:55:43 AM UTC-7, Richard Walters wrote:
Congratulations to Windward Performance and their new
Duckhawk, and Chip Garner for being the USA champion in the
15m nationals at Mifflin. Congrats also to Jerzy S for the overall
win.
Rick W

Nice to see Chip and Windward performance debut so well with the Duckhawk. Great to see gliders being built in the USA.

Now what would be interesting would be to see the Duckhawk mix it up with the big-wings (and many 18m ships as well) on some strong days at the Minden open class contest....

Darryl

Well hopefully it will peak your interest to know that Chip will be
flying the DuckHawk at the 2012 Open Class Nationals in Minden. Should
be a lot of fun!


Oh yes it does. Its a small field but interesting mix of gliders and some great pilots.

Darryl

Um, I think the word is pique.

At 05:42 27 May 2012, Wade wrote:
On May 23, 1:24=A0am, Darryl Ramm wrote:
On Tuesday, May 22, 2012 11:58:18 PM UTC-7, WaltWX wrote:
Another congratulations here to Chip Garner for winning the Nationals
i=
n an American made glider.

Tonight I had dinner with Ross Briegleb. Ross was the the first to
win
=
a Nationals in an American made ship, a Laister Nugget. It was 37 years
ago=
at the U.S. Standard Class Soaring Championships, Minden.

Walt Rogers, WX

On Tuesday, May 22, 2012 6:55:43 AM UTC-7, Richard Walters wrote:
Congratulations to Windward Performance and their new
Duckhawk, and Chip Garner for being the USA champion in the
15m nationals at Mifflin. Congrats also to Jerzy S for the overall
win.
Rick W

Nice to see Chip and Windward performance debut so well with the
Duckhawk=
.. Great to see gliders being built in the USA.

Now what would be interesting would be to see the Duckhawk mix it up
with=
the big-wings (and many 18m ships as well) on some strong days at the
Mind=
en open class contest....

Darryl

Well hopefully it will peak your interest to know that Chip will be
flying the DuckHawk at the 2012 Open Class Nationals in Minden. Should
be a lot of fun!