Pazmany PL-1
PL-1 Laminar was designed by Ladislao Pazinany. The prototype PL-1 of 1962 was stressed to nine G’s for aerobatics and featured a low-wing, tricycle-gear configuration with a sliding canopy.
Together with its advanced counterpart, the PL-2, the two Pazmany designs represent more hours flown than any other “amateur built’ aircraft design. Nearly 400 sets of plans were sold for the PL-1 before their sale was discontinued. The fuselage of the plane is all-metal with only flat or single-curvature skins. The wings are built around a single all-metal spar with a leading edge torsion box. In the cabin, seating is side-by-side with dual controls, and there is room for 40 pounds of baggage.
In 1968, a set of drawings were acquired by the Aeronautical Research Laboratory of the Chinese Nationalist Air Force in Taiwan who presented a PL-1, which they built, to Generalisimo Chiang Kai-Shek. Following construction and testing of a prototype it was decided to adopt the type as a basic trainer, and 40 aircraft designated PL-1B have been built for the Chinese Nationalist Air Force and 10 for the Nationalist Chinese Army. In the late l960's the Nationalist Chinese Air Force acquired plans to build a version of the PL-1 to serve as a primary trainer. Their prototype flew on October 26, 1968, and an additonal 35 aircraft were started that year, and 58 were completed, overall.
The first PL-1 flying in England was Harold Jones G-BDHJ.
Gallery
Engine: Continental C90-12F, 95 hp
Gross Weight: 1,320 lb
Wing Area: 116 sq. ft
Wing Loading: 11.4 lb/sq. ft
Rated Power Loading: 14.7 lb/hp
Empty Weight: 800 lb
Span: 28 ft
Length: 18'11"
Fuel Capacity: 25 USG
Max Speed SL: 120 mph
Cruise Speed SL: 115 mph
Landing Speed SL, 37 deg Flap - 1.1VS: 56 mph
Stall Speed SL, 37 deg Flap: 51 mph (44.3 knots)
Rate of Climb SL: 1,000 fpm
Service Ceiling: 18,000 ft
Normal Range SL: 500 mi
Take-Off Distance/50 ft, 15 deg Flap: 784 ft
Engine: Lycoming O-235, 115 hp
Engine: Lycoming 0-290-D2b, 135 hp (Estimated Performance)
Gross Weight: 1,407 lb
Wing Area: 116 sq. ft
Wing Loading: 12.1 lb/sq. ft
Rated Power Loading: 10.4 lb/hp
Empty Weight: 881 lb
Span: 28 ft
Length: 18'11"
Fuel Capacity: 25 USG
Max Speed SL: 160 mph
Cruise Speed SL: 155 mph
Landing Speed SL, 37 deg Flap - 1.1VS: 59 mph
Stall Speed SL, 37 deg Flap: 54 mph (46.9 knots)
Rate of Climb SL: 1,600 fpm
Service Ceiling: 22,000 ft
Normal Range SL: 450 mi
Take-Off Distance/50 ft, 15 deg Flap: 560 ft
