Photograph:
Pazmany PL-4A VH-XAP (c/n V59) at Mangalore, VIC (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 37 kw (50 hp) [1600 cc] modified Volkswagen four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.53 m (28 ft)
- Length: 5.77 m (18 ft 11 in)
- Height: 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in)
- Wing area: 10.77 m² (116 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 193 km/h (120 mph)
- Max cruising speed at sea level: 185 km/h (115 mph)
- Economical cruising speed: 169 km/h (105 mph)
- Landing speed 37 degrees flap: 90 km/h (56 mph)
- Stalling speed at sea level 37 degrees flap: 82 km/h (51 mph)
- Rate of climb: 305 m/min (1,000 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 5,486 m (18,000 ft)
- Range with max fuel: 965 km (600 miles)
- Take-off run 15 deg flap: 168 m (550 ft)
- Landing run: 54 m (175 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 95 litres (21 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 363 kg (800 lb)
- Loaded weight: 602 kg (1,326 lb)
History:
The PL-4A was designed by Ladislao Pazmany as an easy-to-build, low-cost, aircraft for amateur builders, and the prototype was flown for the first time on 12 July 1972. Approved by the Australian Department of Aviation (as it then was known) for amateur construction, a number of plans and kits of prefabricated components, including fibreglass wingtips, fuel tanks and cockpit canopies, were purchased by builders in the Australasian region. Construction was of all-metal, the basic structural material being 2024 aluminium sheeting. A spring-steel undercarriage was fitted, the tail having a T-configuration, and the wings folded for storage.
Most PL-4As built were fitted with converted Volkswagen engines, including the 1600 cc model with a 2¼ to 1 V-belt reduction drive, although the SL1700E Limbach conversion, the Continental A-65 and A-85, and the Rotax series of engines have also been installed. The PL-4 is aerobatic and, at a gross weight of 385 kg (850 lb), the aircraft is designed to sustain +6 and –6 G, its ultimate load factor being +9 and –9 G. Authorised manoeuvres included chandells, lazy eights, steep turns, stalls, loops, spins and barrel rolls.
A number of examples have been constructed in this region, and registrations allotted include VH-NUT (c/n V60); VH-URR (c/n S25); VH-WIZ (c/n RXD001); VH-PMY (c/n 001); VH-XAP (c/n V59); and ZK-PLF (c/n AACA/359). VH-XAP was the first, being completed by apprentices at the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in Victoria, and was later sold. Two have appeared on the RAA register as 28-0839 (c/n S25) with a Limbach SL1700 engine; and 19-3254 (c/n Q129) with a Volkswagen 2000 engine. Construction of another commenced at Oberon, NSW and the registration VH-TXS was allotted but it is not known to have been completed.