Transavia PL-12 Airtruk

File:PL12 Airtruk ZK-CVD Barr Bros ARD 15.10.73 edited-3.jpg

It was developed from the Bennett Airtruck designed in New Zealand by Luigi Pellarini. It has a 1 tonne capacity hopper and is able to ferry two passengers as a topdresser. Other versions can be used as cargo, ambulance or aerial survey aircraft, and carry one passenger in the top deck and four in the lower deck.

The Airtruk is also sometimes known as the Airtruck. Because the name "Airtruck" was registered by the New Zealand companies Bennett Aviation and Waitomo Aircraft, for their PL-11, Transavia found another name for its PL-12 ("Airtruk").

July 1978 saw the first flight of an improved model, the T-300 Skyfarmer, which was powered by a Textron Lycoming IO-540-engine. This was followed in 1981 by the T-300A with improved aerodynamics. Transavia ceased production of the T-300 in 1985.

In 1982, certification was undertaken to enable sales in the North American market. Assistance was provided by the Aeronautical Research Laboratories of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and extensive tests carried out on the ground and in subsequent flight flutter clearance trials. ref. DSTO Structures Tech. Memo. 341

In 1985, an extended version was produced and released as the T-400. The engine was changed from a 6-cylinder to an 8-cylinder and the tail booms extended by {{convert|750|mm|in}}. Other minor changes were made to the aerodynamics. Flutter clearance tests were again carried out by ARL and manufacture proceeded.{{cite book | isbn = 9780642097453 | title = Flutter clearance tests on a Transavia PL-12/T-400 Skyfarmer | author1 = Goldman, A. | author2 = Galea, S. | year = 1985 | publisher = Aeronautical Research Laboratories | location = Melbourne }}

An isolated flutter incident was reported in 1986 involving violent oscillations of the rudder and tail boom on the T-400 during a delivery flight. Investigations were carried out by ARL, and a split mass balance arm was fitted to each rudder. Prior to this, the aircraft had relied on frictional damping provided by the lengthy control cables. The modified aircraft was tested both on the ground and in flight trials in March 1988 over Port Philip, near Melbourne, Australia. All attempts to induce the oscillations showed that there was no indication of a mode of vibration becoming unstable. The maximum speed achieved was {{convert|160|kn|mph km/h}} in a steep dive. Oscillations were induced with an air operated tool fitted with an out-of-balance rotating mass. This device had a rotational speed from 18 Hz down to zero for each charge of the compressed air cylinder.{{cite book| title = ARL-STRUC-TM-515 Flutter investigations on a Transavia PL12/T-400 aircraft | url = http://hdl.handle.net/1947/9669 | author1 = Goldman, A. | author2 = Rider, C.D. | author3 = Piperias, P. | publisher = Aeronautical Research Laboratory | location = Melbourne}}

At least 120 had been built by 1988.

File:AirTruk at Temora Airport October 2018.jpg

;Australia

• The second prototype is preserved at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.[http://www.powermusemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=83844&search=Australian+design&images=&c=&s=1 Transavia Airtruk PL-12, Australia, 1965, VH-TRN] Powerhouse Museum Retrieved 3 August 2008.

• Two PL-12s, including one assembled from parts of two aircraft, are on display at the Queensland Air Museum, Caloundra Airport.{{cite web |url=https://www.qldairmuseum.au/qam-content/aircraft/airtruk/VH-HSB.htm |title=TRANSAVIA PL-12 AIRTRUK ZK-CWX C/N 818 – QAM, Queensland Air Museum |website=qam.com.au |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date=}}

;Denmark

• A PL-12 is on display and under restoration at the Danmarks Flymuseum at Stauning Vestjylland Airport in western Jutland.{{cite web|url=https://flymuseum.dk/ |title=Danmarks Flymuseum - Forside |publisher=Flymuseum.dk |date= |accessdate=2022-05-02}}

;New Zealand

• A PL-12 is on display at the Museum of Transport & Technology, Auckland, New Zealandhttps://collection.motat.nz/objects/27368/aircraft-transavia-pl-12-airtruk-zk-cvb

;Spain

• A PL-12 is located at the Museum of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Madrid–Cuatro Vientos Airport.{{cite web |date=6 August 2018 |title=Las novedades del Museo del Aire que también se podrán ver en agosto - Noticias Defensa España |url=https://www.defensa.com/espana/novedades-museo-aire-tambien-podran-ver-agosto}}

Indonesia

A PL-12 is placed at the entrance to a golf course (Padang golf Halim) in Halim Perdana Kusuma.

File:Transavia PL-12 Airtruck 2.jpg at Cuatro Vientos airfield near Madrid]]

; PL-12 Airtruk

: Single-engined agricultural aircraft. Powered by 300 hp (224 kW) Rolls-Royce Continental IO-520-D

; PL-12U

: Multi-purpose utility transport, air ambulance, aerial survey aircraft.

; T-320 Airtruk

: Powered by a 320-hp Continental/Rolls-Royce Tiara 6-320-2B piston engine.Taylor 1977, p.8.

; Skyfarmer T-300

: Powered by Lycoming O-540 engine.

; Skyfarmer T-300A

: Improved version of the T-300.

; Skyfarmer T-400

: Enlarged, more powerful (400 hp (298 kW) Lycoming O-720 engine.

; PL-12 MIL

: Proposed multi-role utility transport, air ambulance, forward air control, light attack, counter-insurgency aircraft. Also known as the M-300.Donald 1997, p.877.

; PL-12 550T

: Proposed variant powered by a {{convert|550|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop engine.

{{Aircraft specs

|ref={{cite book|editor1-last=Taylor|editor1-first=John W.R.|title=Jane's all the world's aircraft, 1975-76|date=1975|publisher=Franklin Watts Inc.|location=New York|isbn=978-0531032503|edition=66th annual|pages=9–10}} Jane's All the Worlds Aircraft 1988-89 Taylor 1988, p.7.

|prime units?=kts

|genhide=

|crew=1

|capacity=2 pax / {{convert|2000|lb|abbr=on}} dry chemicals or {{convert|818|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}} liquids

|length m=6.4

|span m=11.98

|height m=2.74

|height ft=

|height in=

|height note=

|wing area sqm=23.8

|aspect ratio=

|airfoil=NACA 23012

|empty weight kg=775

|empty weight note=

:: PL-12U {{convert|1830|lb|abbr=on}}

|max takeoff weight kg=1855

|max takeoff weight note=(agricultural mission)

|fuel capacity={{convert|181.5|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}} in two upper wing fuel tanks with optional second tank in each wing for a total of {{convert|373|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}}

|more general=

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=Rolls-Royce/Continental IO-520-D

|eng1 type=6-cyl. air-cooled horizontally opposed piston engine

|eng1 hp=300

|prop blade number=2

|prop name=McCauley D2A34C58/90AT-2 constant speed metal propeller

|prop dia m=2.23

|max speed kts=103

|max speed note=

:: PL-12U {{convert|112|kn|mph kph|abbr=on}}

|cruise speed kts=95

|cruise speed note=at 75% power at Sea level ISA

:: PL-12U {{convert|102|kn|mph kph|abbr=on}}

|stall speed kts=52

|stall speed note=flaps down

:: PL-12U {{convert|50|kn|mph kph|abbr=on}}

|never exceed speed kts=180

|never exceed speed note=

:: PL-12U {{convert|150|kn|mph kph|abbr=on}}

|range km=

|range miles=

|range nmi=

|range note=

|combat range km=

|combat range miles=

|combat range nmi=

|combat range note=

|ferry range km=

|ferry range miles=

|ferry range nmi=

|ferry range note=

|endurance=

|ceiling m=

|ceiling ft=

|ceiling note=

|g limits=

|roll rate=

|climb rate ms=3.05

|climb rate note=

:: PL-12U {{convert|4.066|m/s|ft/min|abbr=on}}

|time to altitude=

|lift to drag=

|wing loading kg/m2=79

|wing loading note=

:: PL-12U 73 kg/m2 (15 lb/sq.ft.)

|fuel consumption kg/km=

|fuel consumption lb/mi=

|power/mass=0.12 kW/kg (0.073 hp/lb)

:: PL-12U 0.129 kW/kg (0.078 hp/lb)

|more performance=

|avionics=

}}

Aircraft of similar role, configuration, or era

• Grumman Ag Cat

{{reflist}}

• Donald, David (editor). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Leicester, UK: Blitz, 1997. {{ISBN|1-85605-375-X}}.
• Taylor, John W R. (editor). Jane's All the Worlds Aircraft 1976-77. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1976. {{ISBN|0-354-00538-3}}.
• Taylor, John W R. (editor). Jane's All the Worlds Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group, 1988. {{ISBN|0-7106-0867-5}}.

{{commons category|Transavia PL-12 Airtruk}}

• [http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/airtruk.html Transavia PL-12 Airtruk], kiwiaircraftimages.com
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUrmxc-yu_w&feature=emb_title Airtruk Capability], Transfeild Promotional Video
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=00&v=MEoR_fvGo4k&feature=emb_title The First Airtruks], Transfeild Promotional Video

Category:1960s Australian agricultural aircraft

Category:Twin-boom aircraft

Category:Sesquiplanes

Category:Shoulder-wing aircraft

Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1965

Category:Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear

Category:Single-engined piston aircraft