Stewart Headwind

The first Headwind was flown on March 28, 1962. It was one of the first aircraft to fly in the United States using a VW engine. The prototype flew with a Huggins VW conversion.[2] To use a standard propeller, a patented PRSU (propeller speed reducing unit) was developed to keep the engine RPM high and propeller RPM at its optimum speed.[3]

The design was inspired by the Demoiselle by Alberto Santos-Dumont.[4] The fuselage is triangular sections of welded tube steel covered in fabric.

A Volkswagen air-cooled engine was the only engine specified for this model, however many examples exist with alternate engine installations.

Data from Sport Aviation

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 17 ft (5.2 m)
• Wingspan: 24 ft 2 in (7.37 m)
• Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
• Wing area: 110.95 sq ft (10.308 m²)
• Empty weight: 300 lb (136 kg)
• Gross weight: 650 lb (295 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Volkswagen air-cooled engine automotive conversion engine, 65 hp (48 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed wooden

Performance

• Maximum speed: 74 kn (85 mph, 137 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 70 kn (80 mph, 130 km/h)
• Stall speed: 33 kn (38 mph, 61 km/h)
• Never exceed speed: 96 kn (110 mph, 180 km/h)
• Range: 169 nmi (195 mi, 314 km)
• Endurance: 2 hours
• Service ceiling: 7,000 ft (2,100 m)
• Rate of climb: 650 ft/min (3.3 m/s)

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Grega Aircamper
• Aeronca C-3

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stewart Aircraft.

• https://sites.google.com/site/flywithstewart/
• http://www.airbum.com/pireps/PirepPeanutHeadwind.html
• http://www.pilotfriend.com/experimental/acft3/66.htm