Photograph:
Periera GP-4 ZK-JPE (c/n 386) at Tauranga, New Zealand in 2007 (NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming IO-360-A1A four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 7.46 m (24 ft 6 in)
- Length: 6.55 m (21 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 9.66 m² (104 sq ft)
- Max speed (Vmax): 410 km/h (255 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power: 386 km/h (240 mph)
- Stalling speed [clean]: 113 km/h (70 mph)
- Stalling speed in landing configuration: 100 km/h [62 mph]
- Service ceiling: 6,096 m (20,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 671 m/min (2,200 ft/min)
- Fuel capacity: 204 litres (45 Imp gals)
- Take off run: 183 m (600 ft)
- Landing run: 366 m (1,200 ft)
- Range cruising at 75% power: 1,770 km (1,100 miles)
- Empty weight: 572 kg (1,260 lb)
- Useful load: 227 kg (500 lb)
- Loaded weight: 953 kg (2,100 lb)
History:
The GP-4 was a two-seat light amateur built aircraft obtained in plans and kit form. Like the Osprey II, the GP-4 was one of a series of light aircraft designs by George Pereira of Sacramento, California, It is a high-performance, cross-country low-wing, two-seat monoplane built from plans and a materials-only kit is available, although a quick-build kit became available during 2005.
The GP-4 was of all-wood construction and over the years has won a number of awards for its efficient design. Aerofoil selection and drag reduction were primary considerations in the design, as was the strength of the aircraft. At full gross weight it had design limits of +8 / -6G. The wing had a one-piece spar. The undercarriage retracted by a manual system, but a hydraulic system could be installed.
In recent years the GP-4 (also known as the PL-4), like the Osprey II amphibian, has been marketed by the manufacturer, Osprey Aircraft of Sacramento, California. A couple of examples have been imported to this region, the first of the type registered in this region (ZK-JPE – c/n 386) being built at Picton on the south island of New Zealand and being fitted with a 3.3 litre six-cylinder horizontally-opposed liquid-cooled Subaru SVX engine driving through a Sub4 reduction gearbox to a four-blade MT propeller. However, this aircraft was lost in an accident at Orewa Beach near Auckland on 20 March 2011.
Further examples have been under construction in Australia, the first becoming VH-XGP (c/n 351) in August 2010 to its owner/builder at Lilydale, VIC; one being located at Warwick, QLD; VH-SAA (c/n 615) being registered to its owner at Toronto, NSW in May 2014; and VH-JQE³ (c /n 574) being registered to its owner in Western Australia on 30 November 2017.