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Derringer set to Fire
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The USA, the Traditional Home of Modern Light Aircraft Now Offers the First Two-Seat Economy Twin. Jim Thorn Previews This Unique Design Which Could Have Local Sales Potential in The Training and Professional GA Environment.
How often have you flown your eight-seat turboprop with only three people aboard? Or if you are short of a Conquest, Corsair or Cheyenne how many times have you flown a four-seat avgas-burning single with only yourself for company?
For various reasons many people enjoying the obvious physical benefits of private flight largely find themselves flying either alone or simply with one other person. If money was not a major problem these people could trade dollars for speed and operate a performance single or more recently a light twin in the Duchess or Seminole class. However, when flown with only one or two persons constantly the owner/pilot was faced with subsidising a larger and more powerful aircraft than perhaps he needed to.
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Wing Aircraft, of Torrance California, have responded to this potential market with a unique twin-engined two-place light aircraft appropriately named the Derringer.
The Derringer is not really a new aircraft. Certification was granted by the FAA way back in 1966, the type was then stalled due to monetary problems in setting up a production line. Wing finally received the financial impetus they needed in the late seventies to progress with full-scale production on this unique class of light aeroplane. Wing themselves point to an interesting statistic in that the average American private flight transports only 1.7 people! We don’t have relative figures for Australia but would believe they would be similar.
Concept of the Derringer revolves around a light twin providing spirited cruise performance balanced with economy and traditional twin-engined safety. Powered by two 160hp Lycomings with a TBO of 2,000hrs, the Derringer can cruise at 65% power at 210mph for a fuel flow of 14 Imperial gallons per hour attractive performance in anybody’s language.
To date, Wing Aircraft has no definite plans for marketing the aircraft in Australia. However, the Derringer is at last in full production and will no doubt eventually become available as the type establishes itself in its home market. At present a fully IFR-equipped aircraft would sell for around $130,000 Australian dollars which would include the cost of the ferry flight and relevant import duties.
Specifications
Engines: 2 Lycoming Model IO-320-BIC 160hp.
TBO: 2000 hrs.
Length: 23 ft.
Height: 5 ft. 8 in.
Seats: 2.
Wingspan: 29 ft. 2 in.
Wing area: 121 sq. ft.
Wing aspect ratio: 7.0.
Max rampweight: 3050 lbs.
Max takeoff weight: 3050 lbs.
Standard empty weight: 2100 lbs.
Max useful load: 950 lbs.
Max landing weight: 2900 lbs.
Max usable fuel (gals.fibs.): 87 gals.
Max rate of climb (fpm): 1700 ft./min.
Rate of climb at 8,000 ft. (fpm): 1015 ft./min.
Ceiling (Service or Certificated- state which): Service 19,600
ft. at 100 ft.lmin. climb.
Minimum field length: 1240 ft.
Max speed: 250mph.
Cruise at 65% power, best economy, (18,000 ft. for
turbo-charged): 10,000/210 mph.
Fuel flow at 65% power, best economy: 15.8 U.S. gal. hr.
Endurance at 65% power, best economy (no reserves): 5.5 hrs.
Stalling speed, clean: 80 mph.
Stalling speed, flaps/gear down: 72 mph.
Take-off ground roll: 920 ft.
Over 50 ft. obstacle: 1180 ft.
Landing ground roll: 1250 ft.
Over 50 ft. obstacle: 2100 ft.
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