PZL M-4 Tarpan
{{Infobox aircraft
|name =M-4 Tarpan
|image =PZL-M4 Tarpan PICT0007.jpg
|caption =M-4P in the Polish Aviation Museum
|type =Trainer aircraft
|manufacturer =PZL-Mielec
|designer =
|first_flight =7 September 1961
|introduction =
|retired =
|status = Prototype
|primary_user =
|more_users =
|produced =
|number_built = 2 prototypes
|unit cost =
|variants =
}}
PZL M-4 Tarpan (also tarpan) was a Polish trainer and sports aircraft prototype of the 1960s, designed in WSK-Mielec.
Design and development
The M-4 was designed for a demand of the Polish Aero Club, for a trainer plane with a retractable tricycle landing gear. It was based on an earlier project PZL M-2. The basic variant was to be M-4P, for navigation training. The works started in 1958, and the first prototype was built in 1960. Due to a long engine development, it first flew on September 7, 1961 (registration SP-PAW). Trials showed, that the weight was much higher, than estimated (890 kg instead of 748 kg), which demanded changes in design. In July 1964 the second prototype was flown (registration SP-PAK).
The flight characteristics and stability of the M-4 were estimated as good, it was also fit to aerobatics and rally flying. The cab offered an excellent view for the crew and the plane was overall quite successful. However, because of too high price, the Polish Aero Club decided not to order the plane and the production has not started. A development of the flat engine PZL WN-6 was troublesome and was finally canceled at that time as well.
= Description =
Metal construction low-wing monoplane, conventional in layout, metal covered. Semi-monocoque fuselage. Trapezoid two-spar wings. Crew of two, sitting in tandem, under a common canopy, with double controls (student in front, instructor in the rear). Retractable tricycle landing gear. Two-blade wooden propeller of variable pitch (diameter 2 m). Fuel tanks in wings (140 L).
Operational history
In 1965 both prototypes were converted to single seater aerobatics variant (in some sources known as the M-4A) by removing front cab equipment. It was planned to use them in World Aerobatics Championship in 1966 in Moscow, but they have not finished full homologation trials and the idea was abandoned. They were not used in this role much.
Operators
;{{POL}}
- Aeroklub Polski operated second prototype in Mielec.
Survivors
The second M-4 prototype (SP-PAK) is preserved in the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków, from 1971.
Specifications
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1962–63{{Harvnb|Taylor|1962|p=100}}
|prime units?=met
|genhide=
|crew=2
|capacity=
|length m=7.33
|length ft=
|length in=
|span m=8.85
|span ft=
|span in=
|height m=2.73
|height ft=
|height in=
|wing area sqm=11.79
|wing area sqft=
|aspect ratio=6.56:1
|airfoil=NACA 23015 at root, NACA 23012 at tip
|empty weight kg=758
|empty weight lb=
|max takeoff weight kg=1050
|gross weight lb=
|fuel capacity=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Narkiewicz WN-6
|eng1 type=air-cooled 6-cylinder horizontally-opposed engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=180–195
|prop blade number=
|prop name=
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=307
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed mach=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|minimum control speed kmh=96
|minimum control speed note=(with flaps)
|range km=750
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|ceiling m=6900
|ceiling ft=1260
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
See also
References
{{commons category|PZL M-4 Tarpan}}
{{Reflist}}
- Janusz Babiejczuk, Jerzy Grzegorzewski: Polski przemysł lotniczy 1945-1973, Warsaw 1973 (Polish language)
- Marian Krzyżan: Samoloty w muzeach polskich, WKiŁ, Warsaw 1983, {{ISBN|83-206-0432-X}} (Polish language)
- {{cite book|last=Taylor|first=John W. R. |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1962–63|year=1962|publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd.|location=London}}
{{PZL aircraft}}
Category:1960s Polish civil trainer aircraft
Category:1960s Polish sport aircraft