Wing Derringer

D-1 Derringer
Wing D-1 Derringer at Lakeland, Florida in April 2009
Role Light twin-engined touring monoplane
Manufacturer Wing Aircraft
Designer John Thorp
First flight April 1962
Number built 12


The Wing D-1 Derringer is an American light twin-engined two-seat monoplane tourer designed by John Thorp and developed by the Hi-Shear Corporation and built by the Wing Aircraft Company.

Development

The D-1 Derringer light twin design was originally designed in 1958 by John Thorp as the Thorp T-17 a twin-engined development of his Thorp T-11 Sky Scooter. The design was taken over by George Wing of the Hi-Shear Corporation. The Derringer is a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a retractable tricycle landing gear. It had room for two in an enclosed cockpit with an unusual up and backward opening canopy. It was powered by two 100 hp Continental O-200 engines, one mounted on the leading edge of each wing.[1] The prototype aircraft (registered N3621G) first flew on May 1, 1962[2] at Torrance. A second prototype flew in November 1964 but crashed a few weeks later due to an inflight airframe failure.[3] A static test aircraft and two more aircraft were built for testing which resulted in the award of a type certificate on December 20, 1966.[2] The aircraft did not go into production due to internal problems within the Hi-Shear Corporation.

The Derringer used manufacturing techniques that were considered new at the time it was developed. Butt-joined, flush-riveted, chemically-milled and stretched skins are used through the airframe.

Development of a two-seat Coin/military trainer version designated Wing D-2M Derringer was begun[4] but failed to develop further than the design stage.

In 1978 George Wing left Hi-Shear and started the Wing Aircraft Company.[4] The company built one-pre-production aircraft followed by six production aircraft, entering bankruptcy in July 1982, after which only one further aircraft was built before seven unfinished airframes were sold.

Nine D-1 aircraft were on the U.S. civil aircraft register in May 2009.

Specifications (D-1)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1980-81 [5]

General characteristics

D-2M: 30 ft 0 in (9.14 m)
D-2M: 2,350 lb (1,065.9 kg)
D-2M: maximum standard: 3,600 lb (1,632.9 kg)
D-2M: maximum overload: 3,900 lb (1,769.0 kg)
D-2M: 119.9 US gal (453.9 l; 99.8 imp gal)
D-2M: 2x Avco Lycoming IO-360-A1B 4-cyl air-cooled horizontally opposed piston engines 200 hp (150 kW) each

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wing Derringer.
  1. ↑ "The Loaners". Flying: 51. May 1976.
  2. 1 2 J W R Taylor 1982, p. 486.
  3. ↑ AAHS Journal: 73. Spring 2004. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. 1 2 J W R Taylor 1982, p. 487.
  5. ↑ J W R Taylor 1980, p.454.
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