SMYTH "SIDEWINDER" - Plane + Pilot

SMYTH “SIDEWINDER”

Plane & Pilot

Friday, April 16, 2010 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: Omar Filipović

Key Takeaways:

The Sidewinder is a fully enclosed, all-metal two-seater aircraft, featuring aluminum-skinned wings and an aluminum-skinned steel-tube fuselage.
Its construction is streamlined by incorporating standard components from other aircraft, such as a Thorp T-18 canopy and Wittman landing gear.
While the prototype was fitted with a 125-hp engine, achieving a top speed of 185 mph and a cruise of 160 mph, the design supports engine options ranging from 65 to 125 hp.

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STANDARD DATA: Gross wt. 1,450. Empty wt. 867. Fuel capacity 17. Wingspan 24’10”. Length 19’4″. Engine 125-hp Lycoming.
PERFORMANCE: Top mph 185. Cruise mph 160. Stall mph 55. Climb rate 900. Ceiling 15,000. Takeoff run 800. Landing roll 1,500. Range 425.

In order to simplify construction of the Sidewinder, several standard components are borrowed from other established aircraft. The bubble canopy is from a Thorp T-18. The landing gear is taken from a Wittman. This fully enclosed two-seater has all-metal wings with aluminum skin and an all-metal steel-tube fuselage also covered with aluminum skin. Though the prototype was fitted with a 125-hp powerplant, engines from 65 to 125 hp can be used.