Template:Infobox Aircraft The Dyke Delta is an unusual utility aircraft designed in the United States in the 1960s and marketed for homebuilding. It is a double-delta-wing monoplane with retractable tricycle undercarriage and seating for four. The wings can be folded for towing or storage and hinge upwards to lie flat above the fuselage, one atop the other. Construction is of steel tube framework with fiberglass skin. In its standard configuration, the aircraft is a true double-delta with no horizontal stabilizer, but some are being built with a T-tail, for trimming purposes, when using higher-power, and thus much heavier, engines. Beginning in the mid-1960's, John Dyke sold the aircraft plans to homebuilders. No kits were ever marketed. As of 2008 it's believed twelve aircraft have been completed. The plans are still available from John Dyke, who now resides in Fairborne, Ohio.
The sole flying Dyke Delta is N18DW, which was constructed in the late 1960's. The bright yellow aircraft was a frequent visitor to EAA fly-ins throughout the 1970's, until it suffered an engine failure which resulted in a severe landing accident on route to Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1979. The pilot attempted to land the aircraft on a roadway, but the gear caught the road edge and the aircraft was propelled into a farmer's henhouse, resulting in no injuries to the pilot and passanger, but the death of two hens. The remains of N18DW remained in to owner's garage until 2006 when work commenced on restoring the aircraft to flying condition. A larger and more powerful engine was installed, and the cabin was shortened by 5 inches, while the cowling was lengthened by 5 inches to balance the aircraft. John Dyke traveled to Florida several times to view the restoration and modifications. The restored aircraft flew for the first time in October 2007. It resides inside the owner's home on Key Largo, Florida and has been restored to its former yellow psint sceme. The use of a more powerful engine has incresed the aircraft's maximum speed and rate of climb, but has made the aircraft capable of stalling. Aircraft built to the original specifications were incapable of stalls.
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Performance