The Hicks Merlin, initially called the Hicks Kestrel, was a single-seat high performance sailplane designed and built by W.E. Hicks at the Newcastle Gliding Club from 1933 to 1936.
A parasol, braced three-piece wing with no air-brakes or flaps. The undercarriage was a main skid and tail skid. It was fitted with an “Automatic Rudder”.
It was first flown on 2 February 1936 at Moat Law, UK.
No B.G.A. CofA was issued. As the fuselage contours were shaped around Eddie Hick’s profile the Merlin was of ‘little use to any other person’.
It was eventually purchased for £1 for the Newcastle Club bonfire and burnt pre-war.
Wingspan: 10.46 m / 34 ft 4 in
Length: 4.50 m / 14 ft 9 in
Wing area: 7.43 sq.m / 80 sq.ft
Aspect ratio: 14.8
Wing section: Gottingen 652
Empty weight: 40.82 kg / 90 lb
AUW: 116.12 kg / 245 lb
Wing loading: 15.63 kg/sq.m / 3.2 lb/sq.ft
Max L/D: 20
Min sink: 0.61 m/sec / 2.0 ft/sec
All Aero 