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Aviation History
1982
1982 - 0056.PDF
GAFHawk wears completion HAWK INDUSTRIES says that it plans to fly the prototype of its General Aviation Freighter Hawk 125 (GAFHawk) early in February. Hawk Industries manufactures products for the oil, water, and construction indus tries, and company president Ernest Hauk sees a need in the general- aviation marketplace for an aircraft to transport such equipment. The GAFHawk 125 is designed to fill that role writes Howard Levy. GAFHawk metal was first cut some 2*2 years ago, and the design has been tested in the form of radio- controlled models, in a windtunnel, and as a Piper TriPacer reworked to conform to the GAFHawk general configuration. The specially designed GAFHawk wing has "rollerons", which are mounted on the wing trail ing edge like ailerons, but in front of the 40 per cent chord full-span flaps. They move upwards 60° and downwards 10°, providing good roll control right up to the stall, with no adverse yaw. The constant-chord high aspect ratio wing uses a G(AW)1 sec tion. Flaps are electrically actuated, but all other controls are manual. Wing construction comprises a 14in-square box main spar with 6in- GAFHawk: LEADING DATA Wing span 71ft 5in Length 46ft 11in Height 18ft Wing Area 493ft2 Empty weight 6,250lb maximum weight; normal 12,5001b freight 14,5001b Performance (estimated): Take-off Distance(10°flap) normal/freight 620ft/830ft Climb 950fpm/ 720f.p.m. Maximum cruise speed (64 g.p.h. 10,000ft) 17S m.p.h./169 m.p.h. Stalling speed (30° flap power on) 51 m.p.h./55 m.p.h. Manufacturer: Hawk Industries (Aircraft Division), 57430 Aviation Drive Yucca Valley, California 92284, telephone (714) 365-9746. Above Square tubes form the basic fuselage structure. The five-bladed reversible prop is driven by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-4S& Below Rubber doughnuts form simple robust suspension for the undercarriage legs. Nose- wheel illustrated diameter tubular front and rear spars. Alclad covering is used on the 78 ribs. The fuselage is built from l12XlI2in chromoly tubes welded to gether. The large rear door which forms the underside of the aft sec tion opens upwards and inwards, allowing a tailgate to lower and pro vide an extension of the floor for load ing. The doorway is 7Wn high and 77in wide, and can be opened in flight for air drops. Light corrugated skins are provided as floor covering, but customers will be expected to add plywood flooring. Hardwood sidewalls will be provided. Total cargo volume is 714ft3, of which 60ft3 is under the crew compartment. The cargo com partment is ideal for palletised goods, and even a small jeep can be accom modated. GAFHawk rough-field performance should be good. The trailing-link non- retractable undercarriage has dual wheels and is of simple tube construc tion. Cleveland wheels and hydraulic brakes are used, fitted with Goodrich 8-50 X 10 tube tyres. Shock absorp tion is provided by eight 522in dia meter rubber doughnuts in each main gear leg and 14 S^in-diameter ones in the noseleg. Power is supplied by an 1,173 e.s.h.p. Pratt & Whitney PT6A-45B turning a 108in-diameter five-bladed reversible propeller. Fuel capacity is 360 US gal, held in a see- through glassfibre tank employing gravity feed. Ernest Hauk says that orders for at least 30' aircraft will be required be fore a firm "go" decision is made, but he will not be taking any orders until the aircraft has proved its load lift ing capability. About 30 letters of in tent to buy have been received, all but ten from Alaska and Woods Air Service. If Hawk Industries decides to go ahead, firm orders will require a 30 per cent down-payment on the projected $715,000 basic price at to day's values. The company has already spent $2*2 million on the GAFHawk 125 development, and anticipates that another $1 million will be needed to take the aircraft through certification. This will be for a gross weight of 12,4991b under FAR 23, but the air craft will be tested to 14,5001b, and a weight waiver will be requested for all-freight operations. Certification will take about a year, with first deliveries six months later. Initial production rate will be one a month, working up to one a week after two years. Construction will take place at the company's Yucca Valley facility in California, but there is the possibility of licensed produc tion outside the USA. In addition to the GAFHawk 125, Hawk Industries is considering a larger version designated the GAF Hawk 950 and a smaller aircraft called the TurboHawk 85. The 950 would have a gross weight of around 100,0001b, and would be powered by two 6,000 s.h.p. turboprops. It would cruise at about 180 m.p.h. and cost about $322 million. The 85 would be a "big Cherokee 6" carrying 8-10 people in a pressur ised cabin, but of similar design to the 125. Tricycle gear would be semi- retractable, and maximum cruise speed would be around 270 m.p.h. The turboprop-powered 85 will cost around $545,000 at today's prices, but neither of these aircraft are likely to appear until the late 1980s. Short finals ... Canadair is to establish its third Chal lenger service centre at Houston Air port, Texas. The 60,000ft2, $7million centre should be finished in 1984, and will accommodate up to eight Chal lengers. Brent Rytting has been named as sales manager for Cessna's Pilot Centre programme. He will be respon sible for development of additional programmes throughout the USA. 56 FLIGHT" International, 9 January 1982
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