Wilson Global Explorer
Dean W. Wilson · United States · first flew 1991 · light aircraft
The Wilson Global Explorer is an American amphibious aircraft of the early 1990s used to assist the exploration of remote areas. It is a high-wing twin-engine design.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | High wing braced to the fuselage side and the lower sponsons |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High wing braced to the fuselage side and the lower sponsons
- Unusually deep and wide fuselage with many glazed areas
- Fixed side sponsons for flotation, with the nose gear retracting forward of the hull
Look for a bulky glazed amphibian with a high braced wing, two wing-mounted engines and fixed sponsons on each side of the hull.
Specifications
- The Wilson Global Explorer has a length of 12.14 m (40 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 20.42 m (67 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 193 km/h (120 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Dean W. Wilson designed and built it in Idaho to the order of the explorer Hubert de Chevigny. It first flew in April 1991.
Variants
Two were built. Various Lycoming engines of between 200 and 300 hp were fitted, depending on the altitude expected in planned operations.
Where you'll see it
The first aircraft crashed near Port McNeill, British Columbia, after a take-off with the lift spoilers on. The second was used by Canal+ for filming and flew from Australia to France in 1998, before crashing at Blois in 2001 and passing to a museum at Biscarrosse.
Related aircraft
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