Mark James Boyd wrote:

Every SparrowHawk built has been fitted with a BRS. Every customer
has selected this option so far. We expect this to continue. Number
10 will fly in a couple of weeks and will have a BRS.
Regards
Greg Cole


Greg Cole!

bows down again and again, "we are not worthy" chanted...etc :-

Outstanding! It seems to make a TON of sense both from
the customer AND manufacturer perspective. I don't want
to take up to much of your time (you SHOULD be in the
shop building a twin-jet Sparrowhawk .

But did you use the 8" or 7" diameter systems?

While it would be more satisfying to get answers from Greg, he doesn't
routinely monitor the group, so I will attempt some answers.

I don't know the diameter of the system currently used, but diameter
doesn't seem to important to the pilot!

And how did the
weight and balance work out?

CG is not a problem, as it is mounted very close to the CG. It does
reduce the allowed cockpit weight by the weight of the BRS system (about
30 pounds in the one I flew). The pilot could elect to fly without a
personal parachute, making the net loss in cockpit payload about 20 pounds.

Is it true you get a
weight increase on the "ultralight" definition from using a
BRS?

Yes, I'm told the FAA doesn't count a BRS system in the "empty weight".

Older FAA docs seemed to indicate this weight
increase was only for "powered" ultralights. Is the
weight increase 24 pounds, or what?

The one I flew was about 30 pounds, due to using the "high speed" chute,
rather than the lower speed chutes an ultralight would typically use.

A prospective purchaser should not take my remarks as definitive, but
should contact Windward Performance for the latest figures. I do talk to
Greg from time to time, most recently at the Convention, but I don't
follow the details closely.

Great stuff. I hope you sell two dozen more Sparrowhawks
this year. I can't wait to touch one in person...

You ought to come to the SparrowHawk Flyin, starting May 15, where you
can touch at least 5 (with more likely) of them! Bring your glider and
do some soaring in Eastern Oregon. Check their website for details.
Besides seeing the SparrowHawks, I think you'd enjoy seeing how they are
constructed, along the impressive array of molds and fixtures.

I'll be there with my glider to join the festivities and attempt some
state motorglider records (and maybe some records in a SparrowHawk, if I
can persuade an owner to get out his long enough).

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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA