Aviation Forum / General / Soaring / February 2010

The Sparrowhawk is the worlds most fun to fly sailplane available
hands down.  Jim Payne just set 8 new USA National records in a
Sparrowhawk in 2009.  WOW!!!   No other standard sailplane comes close
to it's maneuverability and agility due to it's low weight and low
moment of inertia due to the low wing weight. Ask anyone who has ever
flown a Sparrowhawk what it was like and the incredible response is
always the same.  One pilot I read about said it was a lot more fun
than his DG808 which cost three times as much.  Some interested pilots
have asked about its penetration ability in wind being that it is
light.  It turns out that it penetrates very similar to most normal
ships with wing loading in the 6lbs range. The Sparrowhawk is
difficult to beat on the fun and easy to fly factor!
  This glider is a 2005 model that is still in current production.
It's usable load with current equipment is around 215-225lbs (2 or 1
batteries less O2)  Empty weight fully loaded is 210lbs.  Gross weight
is 425lbs.  It only has 46 hours on it and is in excellent condition.
It comes with a Cambridge 302, Becker 4201 Radio, ASI, ALT, dual 9ah
batteries, GT-50 g-meter, Mountain high O2 system, BRS and a clam
shell fiberglass trailer. It has a new TE probe plumbed to the CA
302.  The instrument panel has one more available hole I was planning
to use for a transponder.  A small mechanical vario would also fit if
you fly in an area that does not benefit from a transponder.   I
upgraded the seat pan with a new one designed to give more head room
for taller pilots.  I still have the old one which is included so you
can try both and use the more comfortable one.  The new seat pan is
also  stronger/thicker than the old one.  Unfortunately, it is also
heavier.  The trailer is a fiberglass clam shell Glasstec from the
80’s which I refinished this summer with new floor boards and outside
paint.  I installed a solar charging system with a dual output charge
controller on the trailer.  You will never have to pull the batteries
out to charge them.  The Moutain High Oxygen bottle is brand new and
the MH  Pulse system has never been used.  I am listing the SH for
$49k which is $16K less than a new one.

This sailplane has a full FAA experimental registration and N number.
This sailplane is registered in the experimental category and does not
fly as and ultralight or Part 103.  This means you can easily get
aviation hull/liability insurance and take it to the races and set
ultra-light glider records.   Part 103 aircraft can not get hull
insurance.  It also has water ballast tanks in the wings which are not
fully plumbed at this time.  This ship would really scream in the club
class with its generous handicap and 50lbs of water.  The BRS
Ballistic parachute system allows you to double chute.  The BRS has
low altitude save capabilities that a regular parachute can not do.
Check out  http://brsparachutes.com for more information.  You can
find more information about the Sparrowhawk at http://www.windward-performance.com/
Please e-mail with any questions or come to Utah if you want to see it
in person.