The Tailwind is the third in a series of high-wing aircraft designed by Sylvester J. "Steve" Wittman (1904–1995), a well-known air racing pilot and race plane designer, who also played an important role in the emergence of homebuilt aircraft with the Wittman Tailwind and other designs in the United States.^[2] The first, the Wittman Buttercup two-seater, and later the Wittman Big X four-seater, which was bought by Cessna to use its spring steel landing gear. The Tailwind also inspired the last iteration, the O and O Special. A model of the 1965 Wittman Tailwind may be found in the Sun 'n Fun Museum.^[3]

Wittman developed the C-85 powered "Flying Carpet" in 1953, later renaming it to the "Tailwind".^[4] In 1953, the Tailwind became the first aircraft covered under the FAA's Experimental category to be certified to carry a passenger. While crude looking by modern standards, it outperformed many similar factory-built planes, and only with the advent of composite construction were new designs able to achieve similar speed per horsepower and range.^[5]

Steve Wittman and his wife were killed April 27, 1995 when their "O&O Special", a similar, larger and one-of-a-kind aircraft crashed. The propeller and some fabric covering from this "O&O Special" is on display in the Wittman hangar located on the Pioneer Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co of Corona, California acquired the rights to the Tailwind in January 1996 and became the exclusive distributor for plans and materials.^[6]

W-8 Tailwind

The W-8 (initial version) updated to a new designation, the W-10.

Overton Tailwind — One example built with a 25 ft constant taper wing with wood spar, foam and composite skin construction.^[7]

W-9 Tailwind

The W-9L was introduced in 1958 with a constant-speed propeller, 35 gallon fuel tank, and a tricycle landing gear.^[8]

W-10 Tailwind

Tapered wingtips, Tricycle gear version options

AJEP Tailwind

Marketed in the UK by AJEP in the 1970s in both kit and ready-to-fly form.

General characteristics

• Crew: one pilot
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Length: 19 ft 3 in (5.87 m)
• Wingspan: 20 ft 11 in (6.38 m)
• Height: 5 ft 3 in (1.6 m)
• Wing area: 84 sq ft (7.8 m²)
• Empty weight: 685 lb (311 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,235 lb (560 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-320 , 160 hp (150 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 200 mph (320 km/h, 170 kn)
• Range: 600 mi (970 km, 520 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 16,000 ft (4,900 m)
• Rate of climb: 900 ft/min (4.6 m/s)

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Wittman Buttercup
• Nesmith Cougar
• Szaraz SDS-1A Daphne
• Hanson Woodwind
• Scott Ol' Ironsides
• Bede BD-4 (two-seat versions)

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 51, 897.
• Airventure Museum Web site

• Wittman Tailwind Page at Aircraft Spruce