CGS Hawk

CGS Hawk
Hawk Ultra
Role Light-sport aircraft, Homebuilt aircraft, ultralight aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer CGS Aviation
Designer Chuck Slusarczyk
First flight January 1982
Introduction March 1982
Status In production
Number built 1712


The first Hawk prototype at Sun 'n Fun 2006
Hawk Sport
Hawk Arrow II with dope and fabric covering
Hawk Arrow II

The CGS Hawk is a family of high wing, strut-braced, pusher configuration, single and two-seats-in-tandem ultralight aircraft, designed by Chuck Slusarczyk and manufactured by CGS Aviation.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Development

Designer Chuck Slusarczyk established himself as a hang glider designer in the early 1970s, including producing engine power units for hang gliders. In October 1979, his company, Chuck's Glider Supplies was renamed CGS Aviation. In 1980 Slusarczyk surveyed pilots at Sun 'n Fun and AirVenture to find out what they wanted in a new ultralight aircraft design. The survey revealed pilots were looking for:[5][8]

When the resulting Hawk first flew in January 1982 it was the first ultralight aircraft with an enclosed cockpit and to use strut bracing. The aircraft was intended to meet the requirements of the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category, including that category's maximum 254 lb (115 kg) empty weight.[4][5][8]

The Hawk wing is strut-braced, constructed from aluminum tubing and covered with either pre-sewn Dacron envelopes or doped aircraft fabric. The wing also features flaps. The fuselage is of similar construction and uses a curved boom tube for its main structural member. The curved tube allows the tail to be located higher, out of the wing's downwash, especially when the flaps are extended. Landing gear for all models is optionally tricycle or conventional.[4]

The Hawks are available as aircraft kits, quick-build kits, or completed aircraft.[4]

Operational history

The Hawk was first introduced to the public at Sun N Fun in March 1982 in Lakeland, Florida. The prototype won Best New Design for 1982.[5]

At the EAA Convention held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin that same year the Hawk was named Outstanding New Design and also Reserve Grand Champion.[5]

At Oshkosh 1983, the Hawk won the Dupont Kevlar Air Recreational Vehicle Design Competition against more than 126 other designs.[5]

Variants

Single seaters

Hawk Classic
Single seat, original design, introduced in 1982 and still in production. 990 flying in 2011. Standard empty weight 310 lb (141 kg) with a 600 lb (272 kg) gross weight.. Engines available include the two-stroke 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447, 52 hp (39 kW) Rotax 503, 65 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582, 40 hp (30 kW) Hirth 2702, 55 hp (41 kW) Hirth 3202, 65 hp (48 kW) Hirth 3203 and the four-stroke 60 hp (45 kW) HKS 700E.[1][2][3][4][6][8]
Hawk Arrow
Single seat, with a less sloped windshield, longer nose, larger tail surfaces, flatter floor and reinforced tail boom. 135 flying in 2011. Standard empty weight 330 lb (150 kg) with a 625 lb (283 kg) gross weight. Engines available include the two-stroke 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447, 52 hp (39 kW) Rotax 503, 65 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582, 40 hp (30 kW) Hirth 2702, 55 hp (41 kW) Hirth 3202, 65 hp (48 kW) Hirth 3203 and the four-stroke 60 hp (45 kW) HKS 700E.[1][2][3][6][9]
Hawk Plus
Single seat, based on the Arrow two-seater, with only the front seat fitted, intended as a freight carrier. 65 flying in 2011. Standard empty weight 350 lb (159 kg) with a 800 lb (363 kg) gross weight. Engines available include the two-stroke 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447, 52 hp (39 kW) Rotax 503, 65 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582, 40 hp (30 kW) Hirth 2702, 55 hp (41 kW) Hirth 3202, 65 hp (48 kW) Hirth 3203 and the four-stroke 60 hp (45 kW) HKS 700E.[2][3][4][6][10]
Hawk Sport
Single seat, developed to compete in the 1999 European World Air Games. Eight were flying by 2011. It has competition features, including streamlined struts and landing gear legs, no jury struts, a semi-symmetrical airfoil and 3 in (8 cm) extra headroom. Standard empty weight 310 lb (141 kg) with a 625 lb (283 kg) gross weight. Engines available include the two-stroke 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447, 52 hp (39 kW) Rotax 503, 65 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 or the 40 hp (30 kW) Hirth 2702.[6][11]
Hawk Ultra
Single seat, based on the Classic. The Classic weighed under 254 lb (115 kg) when introduced, but became heavier as amenities were added and thus no longer qualified for FAR 103. The Ultra model is a lightened version to comply with the FAR 103 rules. Eight flying in 2011. Standard empty weight 254 lb (115 kg) with a 600 lb (272 kg) gross weight. Engines available include the two-stroke 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447 or the 35 hp (26 kW) Kawasaki 440.[2][6][12]
AG-Hawk
No longer in production. 30 reported flying in 1998. Single seat, based on the Arrow and equipped as an agricultural aircraft for spraying. Standard empty weight 275 lb (125 kg) with a 800 lb (363 kg) gross weight. Specified engine was the two-stroke 65 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582.[1]

Two seaters

Hawk Classic II
Introduced in 1985 and no longer in production. 290 reported flying in 1998. Two seats in tandem, based on the Classic. Standard empty weight 340 lb (154 kg) with a 800 lb (363 kg) gross weight. Engines available included the two-stroke, 52 hp (39 kW) Rotax 503, 65 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582, 55 hp (41 kW) Hirth 2703 and the 65 hp (48 kW) Hirth 2706.[1][3]
Hawk Arrow II
Two seats in tandem, with the rear seat raised for visibility. Based on the Classic, but with a less sloped windshield, longer nose, larger tail surfaces, flatter floor and reinforced tail boom. Available as a fully assembled US Special Light Sport Aircraft. It incorporates the semi-symmetrical airfoil and streamlined extruded aluminum wing struts from the Hawk Sport. 186 flying in 2011. Standard empty weight 420 lb (191 kg) with a 950 lb (431 kg) gross weight. Engines available include the two-stroke, 52 hp (39 kW) Rotax 503, 65 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582, 55 hp (41 kW) Hirth 3202, 65 hp (48 kW) Hirth 3203, 80 hp (60 kW) Hirth F30, 100 hp (75 kW) Hirth 3701 and the four-stroke 60 hp (45 kW) HKS 700E.[1][2][3][4][6][13][14]

Specifications (Classic)

Data from CGS & Kitplanes[2][3][8]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 132-133. BAI Communications. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Downey, Julia: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 45-46. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kitplanes Staff: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 42-43. Primedia Publications. IPM 0462012
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page B-28 & B-82 Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 CGS Aviation (n.d.). "CGS Hawk History". Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 45. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  7. ↑ Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 34. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  8. 1 2 3 4 CGS Aviation (n.d.). "CGS Hawk Classic Single Seat". Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  9. ↑ CGS Aviation (n.d.). "CGS Hawk Arrow Single Seat". Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  10. ↑ CGS Aviation (n.d.). "CGS Hawk Plus Single Seat". Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  11. ↑ CGS Aviation (n.d.). "CGS Hawk "Sport" Single Seat". Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  12. ↑ CGS Aviation (n.d.). "CGS Hawk 'Classic Ultra'". Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  13. ↑ CGS Aviation (n.d.). "CGS Hawk Arrow Two Seat". Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  14. ↑ CGS Aviation (n.d.). "Hawk SLSA & ELSA". Retrieved 19 June 2010.
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