Why Fly a CGS Hawk?

Why Buy a Hawk?

Engineering

The CGS Hawk, unlike most early ultralight designs, was not a converted hang glider. It was designed from the wheels up to be a proper little airplane. The engineering phase of this design took over a year before any metal was actually cut. The engineering criteria used was that for conventional airplanes.

Testing

CGS Aviation performed load tests of the control system and various control system methods. Landing gear drop tests were performed as well. Load testing of the wings in both positive and negative conditions, load testing of the horizontal and vertical tail assemblies for gust and positive and negative loadings verified the engineering data as to the strength of the airframe. Flight tests included stalls in all configurations (with and without flaps), maximum gross weight take offs and landings, tuft testing, prop tests, maneuvers, spin attempts, and high G maneuvers. We followed the normal guidelines for flight testing a new design. The first two Hawk prototypes had over 200 hours each before we sold the first Hawk to a customer.

Ease of Maintenance

The construction of the Hawk, utilizing anodized aluminum tubing and gussets held together with pop rivets, allows for easy repair even in the field if necessary. For example, a bent tube can be removed by drilling out the rivets with a battery powered drill and installing the new tube using rivets and a hand operated pop riveting tool. The Hawk features completely anodized tubing which stops corrosion and allows for long life airframes. Many Hawks built in 1983 are still flying today!

Pilot Protection and Safety

The first concern during the Hawks' design was how to best protect the pilot during a forced landing in trees, rough fields, barbed wire fences, buildings, or other unforeseen obstacles. The sturdy bridge-like structure of one inch diameter tubing forms a roll-cage which surrounds the pilot completely. Combine this with the seat belt and shoulder harness restraint system and you have the ideal situation wherein the airframe takes the initial shock of impact instead of the pilot. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT BUFFER ZONE. Designs where the pilot is completely, or partially hanging out of the airframe, can allow him or her (rather than the airframe) to take the first impact, in an emergency situation. The shape of the nose serves a dual purpose of aerodynamic efficiency and pilot protection. In the event of a tree landing, or any landing where you might go through some type of irregular mass, this nose shape allows the branches, or other mass, to slide above and below the pilot, much like a wedge. All these features for pilot protection can sound gloomy, but fortunately you will probably never need them. Like car insurance, however, it's good to have it when you do need it!

Performance & Features

The Hawk's wide landing gear serves two functions. First, it allows for greater crosswind capabilities (20 knots, 90 degrees, tested). The wider gear also lets stones or gravel (which can be kicked up by the tires and thrown backwards) not hit the propeller. In narrow landing gear designs, the prop disk is directly behind the tires, throwing stones into the prop. he large horizontal stabilizer area provides exceptional longitudinal stability and a broad CG range. The large vertical stabilizer and rudder also provide exceptional yaw stability. The Hawk maintains positive elevator control right through a stall.The curved boom tube serves many useful purposes. It allows the horizontal stabilizer to be mounted above the downwash of the wings and flaps, allowing you to slip the Hawk with the flaps down. It provides for the gear legs to be shorter while still having enough clearance at the tail. Shorter gear legs also allow the vertical CG to be lower for enhanced ground stability and easy entrance and exit to the cockpit. And, it looks good too! The process of bending the boom tube work hardens it a bit, increasing its tensile strength. A curved tube is also torsionally stiffer than a straight tube.The kit itself comes with the wings, horizontal and vertical stabilizers, elevators and flaps constructed, the welded parts complete and 51% for you the builder, to pop rivet and assemble. The covering fits onto the wings and fuselage like a sock on a foot.

NASAD Approved Design

The National Association of Sport Aircraft Designers has issued its kit approval to the CGS Hawk. To receive the "Seal of Quality" from NASAD the CGS Hawk was required to meet quality standards as formulated by NASAD. These standards include:

• General Specifications
• Plans and drawings standards with complete details on all Systems.
• Manual standards.
• History of experience supported by complete test records.
• Complete analysis by professional aeronautical engineers as to construction, engineering, and materials.