Wing Derringer
Wing Aircraft Company · United States · first flew 1962 · light aircraft
The Wing D-1 Derringer is an American light twin-engined two-seat monoplane tourer designed by John Thorp. It was developed by the Hi-Shear Corporation and built by the Wing Aircraft Company.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.01 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low-wing cantilever monoplane with retractable tricycle landing gear
- One engine mounted on the leading edge of each wing
- Enclosed two-seat cockpit with an unusual up and backward opening canopy
Nine D-1 aircraft were on the US civil register in May 2009. Production aircraft had Lycoming IO-320 engines of 160 hp.
Specifications
- The Wing Derringer has a length of 7.01 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.89 m (29 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 372 km/h (231 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The design originated in 1958 as the Thorp T-17, a twin-engined development of the Thorp T-11 Sky Scooter, and George Wing of Hi-Shear took it over. The prototype first flew on 1 May 1962 at Torrance with two 100 hp Continental O-200 engines.
Variants
A two-seat COIN and military trainer version, the D-2M Derringer, was begun but did not develop beyond the design stage.
Where you'll see it
The FAA type certificate A9WE was awarded on 20 December 1966, but the aircraft did not go into production because of internal problems at Hi-Shear. George Wing founded the Wing Aircraft Company in 1978, and it built a pre-production aircraft and six production aircraft before bankruptcy in July 1982.
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