Pazmany PL-4
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| {{Infobox Aircraft Begin
| name=PL-4A | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type | type=Amateur-built aircraft | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Pazmany Aircraft Corporation/Homebuilt | designer=Ladislao Pazmany | first flight=12 July 1972 | introduced= | retired= | status= | primary user= | number built=more than 50 | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Pazmany PL-4A is a single-seat, single-engine sport aircraft developed in the United StatesTaylor 1989, p.717 and first flown in 1972.Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1985–86, p.608 It is marketed for homebuilding from plans, and 686 sets had sold by 1985. The PL-4A is a conventional, low-wing cantilever monoplane with an enclosed cabin and fixed, tailwheel undercarriage.Markowski 1979, p.241 The design features a T-tail, chosen to facilitate folding the wings."Pazmany's PL-4 Features 'T'-tail and VW engine" 1972, p.40 Construction throughout is of metal, using standard extruded sections for the longerons and pop rivets as the basic fastener. The standard powerplant is a Volkswagen air-cooled engine of {{convert|60|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}Markowski 1979, p.245"Pazmany's PL-4 Features 'T'-tail and VW engine" 1972, p.43 Construction time is estimated to be around 1,000–1,500 hours.Pazmany 1973, p.39Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 114. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
The PL-4A won the "Outstanding New Design" and "Outstanding Contribution to Low-Cost Flying" awards at the 1972 EAA Fly-In.Markowski 1979, p.246Dwiggins 1973, p.78 By 2000 more than 50 had been built and flown.Simpson 2001, p.418
Variants
;Pazmany PL-4A: Standard single seater, normally powered by a {{convert|60|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Volkswagen air-cooled engine with V-belt drive reduction.Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 121. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}
;Denight 100 D2 Special: Modified PL4A design to seat two side by side. Main differences are an increase in length by 17 in (450 mm) and in fuselage width by 12 in (305 mm), a more powerful 115 hp (86 kW) Avco Lycoming O-235 flat-four engine and a conventional tail. Maximum take-off weight is 1,250 lb (567 kg).Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1984/5 p.571
Specifications
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1985–86, p.608
|prime units? = imp
|crew=One pilot
|length m=5.04
|length ft=16
|length in=7
|span m=8.13
|span ft=26
|span in=8
|height m=1.73
|height ft=5
|height in=8
|wing area sqm=8.3
|wing area sqft=89
|empty weight kg=262
|empty weight lb=578
|gross weight kg=385
|gross weight lb=850
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Converted Volkswagen air-cooled engine
|eng1 hp=50
|eng1 kw=38
|max speed kmh=201
|max speed mph=125
|range km=545
|range miles=340
|ceiling m=3,960
|ceiling ft=13,000
|climb rate ms=3.3
|climb rate ftmin=650
}}
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References
=Notes=
{{reflist}}
=Bibliography=
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite journal |last=Dwiggins |first=Don |author-link=Don Dwiggins |title=Pazmany VW-Engine Homebuilt |journal=Plane & Pilot |date=April 1973 |pages=76–79 }}
- {{cite book |title= Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1984-1985|last= Taylor|first= John W. R. |year=1984|publisher= Jane's Publishing Co.|location= London|isbn=0710608012}}
- {{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1985–86 |url=https://archive.org/details/janesfightingshi8586shar |url-access=registration |publisher=Jane's Publications |location=London }}
- {{cite book |last= Markowski |first= Mark |title=The Encyclopedia of Homebuilt Aircraft |year=1979 |publisher=TAB Books |location=Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania |isbn= 0-8306-2256-X }}
- {{cite journal |last=Pazmany |first=Ladislao |title=The Pazmany PL-4A is flying |journal=Sport Aviation |date=March 1973 |pages=32–39}}
- {{cite journal |title=Pazmany's PL-4 Features 'T'-tail and VW engine |journal=Sport Flying |date=October 1972 |pages=40–43 }}
- {{cite book |title= Airlife's World Aircraft|last=Simpson|first=Rod| year=2001|publisher=Airlife Publishing Ltd |location=Shrewsbury |isbn=978-1-84037-115-4}}
- {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |isbn= 0-7106-0710-5 }}
{{refend}}
{{Pazmany aircraft}}
Category:1970s United States sport aircraft