The Champion Freedom Falcon is an American
mid-wing
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple planes.
A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing con ...
,
T-tail
A T-tail is an empennage configuration in which the tailplane is mounted to the top of the fin. The arrangement looks like the capital letter T, hence the name. The T-tail differs from the standard configuration in which the tailplane ...
ed,
pusher configuration, single-seat
motor glider
A motor glider is a fixed-wing aircraft that can be flown with or without engine power. The FAI Gliding Commission Sporting Code definition is: a fixed-wing aerodyne equipped with a means of propulsion (MoP), capable of sustained soaring flight ...
that was designed and constructed by
Ken Champion, first flying in 1982.
Design and development
The Freedom Falcon was constructed with a wooden frame, covered with
plywood and doped
aircraft fabric covering. It mounts a
OMC Golden Phantom
Wankel engine
The Wankel engine (, ) is a type of internal combustion engine using an eccentric rotary design to convert pressure into rotating motion. It was invented by German engineer Felix Wankel, and designed by German engineer Hanns-Dieter Paschke. ...
behind the
cockpit, with the
variable-pitch propeller above the tail boom. The span wing employs a Göttingen 549
airfoil and mounts
spoilers for glidepath control.
Only one example was completed and it was registered with the US
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic ...
in the ''
Experimental - amateur-built'' category. FAA records indicate that the aircraft's registration expired on 30 June 2011 and was not renewed, so it is unknown whether the aircraft still exists.
Specifications (Freedom Falcon)
See also
References
{{reflist
External links
Göttingen 549 airfoil
1980s United States sailplanes
Homebuilt aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1982
Motor gliders
Single-engined pusher aircraft