title: Whigham GW-5
text: # Whigham GW-5
  
  The Whigham GW-5 is an American mid-wing, single seat, FAI Standard Class glider that was designed and constructed by Gene Whigham, a retired flight test engineer for Convair.
  
  ## Design and development
  
  The GW-5 was designed for the standard class and as such it features a constant-chord 15 m (49.2 ft) wing with a Wortmann FX 61-184 airfoil and flaps for glidepath control.
  
  The GW-5 is of all-metal construction. The landing gear is a faired fixed monowheel. The aircraft has a bubble canopy and a conventional low tail.
  
  One GW-5 was built. It was completed in 1980 and registered with the Federal Aviation Administration in the Experimental - Amateur-built category.
  
  ## Operational history
  
  The sole GW-5 built was sold in September 2012 and the registration has expired. It is not known if the aircraft still exists or not.
  
  ## Specifications (GW-5)
  
  Data from Sailplane Directory and Soaring
  
  General characteristics
  
  * Crew: one
  * Wingspan: 49 ft 3 in (15.0 m)
  * Wing area: 131 sq ft (12.2 $m^2)$
  * Aspect ratio: 18.5:1
  * Airfoil: Wortmann FX 61-184
  * Empty weight: 518 lb (235 kg)
  * Gross weight: 770 lb (349 kg)
  
  Performance
  
  * Maximum glide ratio: 33:1
  * Wing loading: 5.87 lb/sq ft (28.7 $kg/m^2)$
  