| Hirondelle | |
|---|---|
| Role | Homebuilt monoplane |
| National origin | Canada |
| Manufacturer | Western Aircraft |
| First flight | 1976 |
The Western PGK-1 Hirondelle is a Canadian two-seat aircraft for cross country and recreational flying, designed by Western Aircraft Supplies to be home built. The name is French for the Swallow, and the model designation includes the initials of the designers Jean Peters, Glenn Gibb, and John Kopala.
The prototype first flew in 1976. The Hirondelle is built primarily of wood and cloth. It is a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a fixed tail-wheel landing gear and seats two side-by-side. It was designed for the Lycoming O-235 but accommodates engines from 100 to 160 hp (75-119 kW).
The primary wing structure is a wood box spar connected by band sawed ribs to an aileron spar. To the front of the main spar are strapped D-shaped fiberglass fuel tanks which can carry up to 12 imperial gallons per wing. Over the tanks is the framing and plywood skin of the wing's nose. Behind the main spar, the wings are covered in cloth. The wing section is the NACA 23012 with a 55 inch chord; the wing planform is rectangular. No flaps were fitted to the prototype, but they were being considered.[1]
The fuselage is built up from spruce and covered in 3 mm plywood. Cabin width on the prototype was 38 inches. The main gear uses Wittman tapered rods and was designed to take standard Cessna wheel pants. As with the Wittman Tailwind, the mains connect to the engine mount. The wing tanks feed a 5¾ imperial gallon header tank through automotive electric fuel pumps. The header tank feeds the engine by gravity.[2]
The prototype weight includes an upholstered interior, a full electrical system off the O-235, and venturi driven gyros. With its 108 hp engine it could cruise 135 mph at 2500 rpm.[3]
General characteristics
Performance
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