Plane you don't see everyday.

[Mcstealth]

Never seen this before. Looked them up, only 12 made by the Wings Corp. It was certified. 

[GeeBee]

Wing Derringer. Really cool airplane.

[MooneyMitch]

42 minutes ago, Mcstealth said:

Never seen this before. Looked them up, only 12 made by the Wings Corp. It was certified. 

You need to stop hanging around the airport…… you might wind up purchasing an airplane!!! 

[GeeBee]

Interestingly, both the Grumman GA-7 and the more successful Beech Duchess killed the Derringer but I always though it was in a class by itself. Smooth chem milled wing the construction was exquisite.

 

[1980Mooney]

https://www.flyingmag.com/the-wing-derringer-a-sports-car-of-the-aircraft-world/
 

Says 12 were made with 7 still registered. 
 

Parts must be a bitch…

[Mcstealth]

4 hours ago, MooneyMitch said:

You need to stop hanging around the airport…… you might wind up purchasing an airplane!!! 

Shhhhhhhh!!!!!

[Pinecone]

16 hours ago, GeeBee said:

Interestingly, both the Grumman GA-7 and the more successful Beech Duchess killed the Derringer but I always though it was in a class by itself. Smooth chem milled wing the construction was exquisite.

 

Being only 2 seat probably hurt sales.

[Pinecone]

15 hours ago, 1980Mooney said:

https://www.flyingmag.com/the-wing-derringer-a-sports-car-of-the-aircraft-world/
 

Says 12 were made with 7 still registered. 
 

Parts must be a bitch…

Wiki says 5 prototype (one crashed, one static test) were made by Hi-Shear.  Under Wing there was one pre-production and 6 production planes.

[Mcstealth]

1 hour ago, Pinecone said:

Wiki says 5 prototype (one crashed, one static test) were made by Hi-Shear.  Under Wing there was one pre-production and 6 production planes.

The owner of this plane stated there were only five remain flying, which percentage wise I guess is pretty good considering how few were made.  He also said it would go 200mph.

[1980Mooney]

14 hours ago, Mcstealth said:

The owner of this plane stated there were only five remain flying, which percentage wise I guess is pretty good considering how few were made.  He also said it would go 200mph.

 

16 hours ago, Pinecone said:

Wiki says 5 prototype (one crashed, one static test) were made by Hi-Shear.  Under Wing there was one pre-production and 6 production planes.

Wiki also says " seven unfinished airframes were sold".  14 Wing D-1 were eventually registered.  And 7 are still registered (no telling if they fly).  Apparently, the unfinished airframes got finished.  

Not included in this list is the original Thorp prototype - N3621G,  It was really a "twin" Sky Scooter.  It was registered as a "Transland D-1"  It had 100 HP IO-200 engines and was underpowered - especially during single engine performance.  It sheared one of the propellor shafts in February 1964,  

Unknown (ntsb.gov)

Good history here - Wing D-1 Derringer (all-aero.com)

 

 

[Mcstealth]

6 hours ago, bluehighwayflyer said:

If I’m not mistaken, back in the day, well-known celebrity defense attorney F. Lee Bailey owned a Wing Derringer.  I have always admired them but have never seen one in person.  Not even at Oshkosh.  Very cool sighting! 

The owner is flying it to Oshkosh this year he told me. May have a second one there this year he added. 

FYI

Edited July 13, 2023 by Mcstealth

[Parker_Woodruff]

Neat - I can't remember seeing one of these before.

[Jerry 5TJ]

TJ Neff Aircraft had a Wing Derringer listed for sale about a decade ago.  I looked at it as I’d been interested in the type for many years.  It seemed like a good personal transportation plane.  But getting repair parts was going to be a problem: I looked into the wing and admired the chemically milled panels. 

[EricJ]

On 7/14/2023 at 11:17 AM, Jerry 5TJ said:

TJ Neff Aircraft had a Wing Derringer listed for sale about a decade ago.  I looked at it as I’d been interested in the type for many years.  It seemed like a good personal transportation plane.  But getting repair parts was going to be a problem: I looked into the wing and admired the chemically milled panels. 

This was my conclusion as well;   you really need to want to own one to get past the supply/repair issues, but it's not much different than any other old, unsupported airframe.

I remember when Flying magazine first covered their introduction way back when.    I think there were a lot of expectations that they'd be popular, but it just didn't happen.   I suspect if they were in production now and could be built competitively there'd be a market as a competitor for the Seminole for twin training but still a useful airplane.   A Seminole with two adult males and full fuel is at gross weight; they're really not good for much other than a trainer, which they're very good at.   A Derringer seems like a better machine overall.

[tls pilot]

Well here is a plane you do not see everyday….

This plane was built in 1929 a 5C3 Command-Aire in Little Rock Arkansas 

Landed this afternoon while I was visiting in PA.

Company started in 1926 went bankrupt in 1931 due to the depression

Three seat biplane. Only 63 were built.

Check out the exhaust system and the concavity under the main wings.

Interesting, uses massive plugs in front and fine wire in rear.

As with any radial , carry lots of oil to top it off at fuel stops and a rag to clean oil off the plane!

Beautiful aircraft, amazing she is still flying, great history.

 

[amillet]

Airspeed indicator appears to be inop

[Fly Boomer]

21 hours ago, tls pilot said:

Well here is a plane you do not see everyday….

This plane was built in 1929 a 5C3 Command-Aire in Little Rock Arkansas 

Seems like a lot of engine, and not much tail.

[Hank]

12 minutes ago, Fly Boomer said:

Seems like a lot of engine, and not much tail.

Many of the WWI planes were like that. This plane was built just a decade later.

[WilliamR]

Big engine, low horsepower. Looks a lot like a Fleet but with a rounded tail.

William