| Eagle | |
|---|---|
Model of a Windecker Eagle at Texas Aviation Hall of Fame. | |
| General information | |
| Type | Light aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Windecker Industries |
| Designer | Leo and Fairfax Windecker [1] |
| Number built | Two prototypes and six production aircraft [1] |
| History | |
| First flight | 7 October 1967 [2] |
| Variant | Windecker YE-5 |
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]
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]
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1971–72 [8]
General characteristics
Performance