Watson GW-1 Windwagon
Gary Watson · United States · first flew 1977 · light aircraft
The Watson Windwagon is a single-seat recreational ultralight designed in the United States in 1976 and marketed for homebuilding.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 3.96 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low cantilever wing with removable outer panels
- Single-seat open cockpit
- Tractor engine and fixed tricycle undercarriage
Look for a tiny metal low-wing single-seater of conventional layout with an open cockpit, tricycle gear and a tractor engine.
Specifications
- The Watson GW-1 Windwagon has a length of 3.96 m (13 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 5.49 m (18 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designer Gary Watson first flew it on 19 April 1977. He originally sold kits as well as plans, but later sold only plans.
Variants
The Hummel Bird is a development of this design. Power came from a Volkswagen air-cooled engine sawn in half to make a flat-two, known as a half VW.
Where you'll see it
By 1987 Watson had sold over 1,025 sets of plans, and over 500 Windwagons had been built around the world.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.