MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Windecker Aircraft’s American R&D facility will follow up the successful restoration of a 1969 Windecker Eagle with a clean sheet design for a new composite, high performance, single engine, low wing, four-seat aircraft.
The design will utilize technologies and materials that have evolved or been developed since the Windecker Eagle was certified in the late 1960s, according to company officials.
John Roncz, an aerodynamicist, will serve as chief designer on the project.
The American team will be responsible for all of the design elements, analysis, initial tooling and prototypes. The certification process will be tailored for global access to markets around the world, utilizing the latest panel technologies, powerplant options and ergonomic refinements, according to company officials.
Windecker China, which is currently preparing to manufacture the original Eagle for distribution in China, will add the new design to its production line when it receives a Type Certificate.
Manufacturing facilities will also be developed in North America for production of the new design.
I don’t understand the value proposition of a “clean sheet” design. GA is super expensive without the cost of a new type certificate built into the margins of a new plane. Maybe something awesome could potentially be discovered, however, we pretty much figured out all there was to know about subsonic flight by about 1945. I’d love to see a project in which, say, Mooney were paid a small fee to use their type cert and produce a new M20 for less than $100K. Make it retro with manual gear retract and all else as light and simple as is “practicable”, as we say. Put in “reasonable” avionics with an AP. That would be a great project … That said, thanks for the effort. And, yes, I am aware of the M10 project.
Thanks for speaking for thousands of pilots
Roncz has a terrific reputation, but even wizard aerodynamicists face constraints imposed by existing power plants, avionics, and consumer preferences. Radical designs to reduce cabin size and drag (such as having back seat passengers face aft, or seats configured 1-2-1) are a tough sale. This project sounds like a China play intended to help build their native general aviation capabilities with a modernized Windecker akin to LoPresti’s Mooney remake.
The aircraft came out in a bad time in the late 60’s produced only a few examples and slid off into obscurity. The GA market got flooded with new aircraft and the boom ended before this design could get a foot hold in it. Expensive and with a small budget they could not compete with the big three: Beech, Cessna and Piper, along with the any foreign designs in production during that time.
Another overpriced pile of bells and whistles in the shape of a missionless, useless airplane
Exactly, as I was reading the article dollar signs danced in my mind…
Indeed Mr. Klein. Perhaps the aviation community is still waiting for your next innovative aircraft design? Mine too I’m afraid…;-) Will be interesting to see what they come up with. Not an easy undertaking in the least.
If you want to see real aircraft for real people go have a look at Just Aircraft. these are USEFULL airplanes for regular folks.
Useful is in the eye of the beholder. For me a STOL taildragger with a 130 mph vne wouldn’t do me any good going across a few states in a timely and efficient manner. For another person they might need something they can take in IFR and icing conditions. For another guy he has a family of 4 and a 2 seater will do him no good. It really depends on the person on what is useful to them.
Well put, Jay:
It’s unlikely that STOL seekers are target customers for a new Chinese -financed composite four seat low wing retractable; consider instead newly wealthy Chinese entrepreneurs taking advantage of the country’s expanding GA facilities.