Wittman Tailwind
1 model · 130 on the US register today
The Wittman Tailwind is Steve Wittman's side-by-side two-seat high-wing plans-built design of the 1950s, a steel-tube fuselage with wooden wings and a famously small frontal area: the W-8 weighs about 700 lb empty on 85-135 hp and is quoted at 185 mph maximum, and the longer W-10 with tapered tips takes up to 180 hp.
The variants
| MODEL | YEARS | ACTIVE | TAILFAX SCORE | WHAT CHANGED |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tailwind W-8 | — | 130 | 18/50 | W-8 figures; W-10 noted |
Family fleet, active
130
FAA registry
NTSB events / 1,000, 10 yrs
53.8
7 events over 130 active aircraft, pooled across the family
Data as of: FAA registry Sep 28 · NTSB Oct 2 · scores Sep 30