The Northrop Flying Wing has been called by some as the most important aircraft design of this century.  This is certainly backed by the fact this design has intrigued homebuilders for years.  Gilbert Davis was one of these people, but it was not until he became friends with Joseph G. Rosales of Gardena, Calif., that he realized the feasibility of designing and building a successful flying wing of the Northrop type, one small and economical enough for pilots in the hombuilt market.      Gilbert Davis' friendship with Joe Rosales, comments which Jack Northrop made to him ("Well, we'll leave that to a younger man" in reference to further development of the flying wing), and Davis' meeting Bill Lear in Reno in 1977, all convinced him that the flying wing concept offered a real opportunity, and that the time was right to bring it into the realm of general aviation.      The Davis Alpha test aircraft has proved that Jack Northrop was right.  Eager to prove his design and his dream, on June 10, 1986, Davis rolled out his design, the Alpha Flying Wing.  This would be an eventful day.  After years of testing, modifying, molding and fabrication, the aircraft rolled to the end of the runway, ready for high-speed taxi testing.  Flight testing soon followed on that day with the nose and then main gear gently clearing the runway.  After more than 30 minutes of flight, the craft touch lightly down and taxied back to the hanger.  Davis had proven once again that the all-wing design is both stable and flyable.
	This aircraft is not designed to be just another kit; it is not designed to be flown by everyone; it is meant for the few who relish the thought of flying a legend.    Davis found there was enough interest to warrent producing a kit, but builders seemed to want a multi-place version built from high-temperature composites with an aircraft engine.  The Davis Starcruiser Gemini design shown at the left was the result.      This design can carry as many as five people, three side-by-side in the cabin and two prone in the inboard section of the wing.  With two people, it can carry 90 gallons of fuel and more than 1,000 pounds of baggage.  With a lighter baggage loads, you can build in 280 gallons of tanks and fly two people over 6,000 miles (ed. - that is the figure in the article).  The prone positions also made it a good aircraft for flying camping trips since it becomes your mobile home.   The Gemini can be flown with as little as 65 hp with reasonable performance, or with the 150 hp Lycming aircraft engine.
	The Davis Wing uses the combined effects of wing sweepback, small vertical fins and flow fences, cowling side loads to produce the needed yaw stability.  The elevons combine the standard functions of both elevator and aileron and, the flaps operate in conjunction with the trim flaps to cancel any unwanted pitch.  The rudder action is produced by using split drag rudders at the wingtips.  When the rudder pedal is operated, it opens the corresponding set of drag rudders and the resulting drag twists the aircraft in the direction of drag.  When both rudder pedals are depressed, they act as air brakes. SPECIFICATONS Five-Place Flying Wing Wingspan...................................................40 feet Length........................................................12 feet Height.........................................................  5 feet
	Cabin Width................................................51 inches Empty Weight............................................980 pounds Useful Load.............................................2,020 pounds Normal Gross Weight...............................2,000 pounds Maximum Gross Weight...........................3,000 pounds Fuel Capacity..............................................90 gallons Engine...............................................Lycoming O-320 Propeller..........................................Wood, fixed pitch Maximum Speed........................................185 mph Stall Speed (@ 2000#).................................52 mph Crusing Speet (@ 75%, 8000')....................172 mph Rate of Climb (@ 2000#).........................1,300 ft.min Range (@ 55%)......................................1,800 miles Service Ceiling......................................24,000 feet Approx. Construction Time.........................800 hours
	Davis had also been working on a Cold Jet (ducted fan) flying wing design.  The diagram at the left shows his concept drawing of the unit that could be used to power a "jet" version of the Gemini Wing.  It uses a good-sized V8 driving a high-speed rotor that acheives a pressure ratio of 1.3 to 1.  Davis projected this would result in in first-class personal sport jet without all of the problems experienced in the past.  The Davis Wing had enough internal volume to allow for the Cold Jets and all of the necessary systems, with room to spare.      (ed. - This item was included since Davis had an actual working version of the Cold Jet that could be installed in the Gemini.  The latest we have heard of the Davis Wing's availability didn't include anything about this version.  The item below was received from the Davis Wing company several months ago, so we are not sure how valid the information may be.  TWITT is in no way endorsing this aircraft, but simply providing the information for each individual to make their own decision regarding obtaining additional information.)

Davis Wing, Ltd. P.O. Box 5903 Boise, ID 83705 Dear Customer:      No doubt you have wondered what happened to the Davis Flying Wings.  I as President and Chairman of the Board and major stockholder, never, never gave in.      The proof-of-concept Flying Wing Alpha was right at 300 flights and, construction on the larger 2-3 place Flying Wing Gemini was coming along well.  Then our family had a string of very expensive operations and long hospital stays not covered by our health insurance.  The Company research and development aero hanger was vandalized, with not only destruction of the Gemini but records and plans were lost.  A short time thereafter there was a very expensive divorce.      Now that I have $40,000 again, what with a few more stockholders, who also believe in the dream of Jack Northrop, we will make it all happen with style. (ed. – The rest of this flyer had a kit production date reservation form attached, one for August and one for November 2000.  Also attached was a purchase contract indicating a final price of $21,500 for the kit, but it doesn’t indicate if this includes the Lycoming O-320 engine.   The performance summary sheet indicated an information packet could be purchased for $15.00 for US delivery and $18.00 (US funds) for airmail, overseas delivery.   No telephone numbers were given for the company.)

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..9/7/02