Walker Sidewinder-X

[SorenThePilot]

Hello,
I came across this aircraft sitting on private property, visible from the road. I couldn’t identify it, so I circled back and snapped a few photos. According to the registration, N16Z, it is called the Sidewinder-X, build and flown by a George Walker (as the text under the canopy says). More text on the nose tells me it has a Lycoming IO-320, and text on the vertical stabilizer root strake tells me it was first flown on July 31st, 1980 (I wish all airplanes had text this informative displayed on them). It looks like the registration expired in 2011. Does anyone know anything else about this pretty little aircraft?

 

[TomS]

I'm thinking this is a Smyth Sidewinder. Fairly light, fast homebuilt. There are a few others around, apparently.

 

[SorenThePilot]

I'm thinking this is a Smyth Sidewinder. Fairly light, fast homebuilt. There are a few others around, apparently.

Interesting, thank you for the information. It sounds like Mr. Walker put in a Lycoming IO-320 instead of the standard’s 125 hp O-290, and dubbed it the Sidewinder-X.

 

[TomS]

Interesting, thank you for the information. It sounds like Mr. Walker put in a 500 hp Lycoming IO-320 instead of the standard’s 125 hp O-290, and dubbed it the Sidewinder-X.

IO-320 is 150 or 160 hp and seems to be a fairly standard option:

http://www.all-aero.com/index.php/contactus/9837-smyth-sidewinder

 

[Scott Kenny]

Hello,
I came across this aircraft sitting on private property, visible from the road. I couldn’t identify it, so I circled back and snapped a few photos. According to the registration, N16Z, it is called the Sidewinder-X, build and flown by a George Walker (as the text under the canopy says). More text on the nose tells me it has a Lycoming IO-320, and text on the vertical stabilizer root strake tells me it was first flown on July 31st, 1980 (I wish all airplanes had text this informative displayed on them). It looks like the registration expired in 2011. Does anyone know anything else about this pretty little aircraft? I am very curious, as I can find little to nothing online, and it appears to be one-of-a-kind.

In the US, all homebuilts are considered to be manufactured by the individual, even though you're building it from a kit/plans.

So if I built a Rans RV-6, the registration plate would say "Kenny RV-6", even though I bought the kit from Rans.

 

[SorenThePilot]

IO-320 is 150 or 160 hp and seems to be a fairly standard option:

http://www.all-aero.com/index.php/contactus/9837-smyth-sidewinder

Whoops, typo on my part, you’re correct