Danieli Piuma Explained

The Danieli Piuma (English: feather) is a family of Italian high-wing, strut-braced, pusher configuration single-seat motor gliders that was designed by Tiziano Danieli of Schio and supplied as plans for amateur construction.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Design and development

The Piuma was designed to be an inexpensive, easy-to-fly and easy-to-build ultralight motor glider. The first model was initially just called the Piuma, but as other models were developed it became known as the Piuma Original.[7]

The Piuma is constructed from wood and finished with doped fabric. The semi-tapered 11.891NaN1 span wing is supported by a single lift strut on each side and has air brakes. The engine is mounted behind the cockpit. The specified engine is the 220NaN0 KFM 107er, but engines of 15to can be fitted. The landing gear is of tricycle configuration and made from steel with rubber shock-absorbers, with an auxiliary tailwheel and fits wheel pants to reduce drag. The tail is cruciform. The aircraft has a glide ratio of 17:1 at 640NaN0. Cabin width is 580NaN0

The designer estimated that it would take a builder 1000 hours to complete the aircraft from the plans. The plans cost US$220 in 1998 and included a 30-page construction manual.

Variants

Piuma Original
  • Initial version with 11.891NaN1 span wing, first flown in 1990. Eight reported completed in 2003.
    Piuma E
  • Improved model with glide ratio of 20:1 at 710NaN0 and other refinements.
    Piuma Evolution
  • Improved model with a wider cockpit, more streamlined fuselage, redesigned tail, new lift struts, electrically retractable nose wheel. main landing gear made from a wood/fibreglass sandwich and a more reclined seat. Four reported completed in 2003.[8]
    Piuma Tourer
  • Model optimized for cross country powered flight with shorter wing of 10.391NaN1 and a NACA 4415 airfoil used in the rectangular portion of the wing and a NACA 2R1-12 airfoil in the tapered wing tip. Cruises at 1350NaN0 and has a 10:1 glide ratio. One reported completed in 2003.[9]
    Piuma Twin Evolution
  • Two seat model with side-by-side configuration seating, introduced in 1998 and inspired by the Tourer. The recommended engine is the Rotax 503 of 370NaN0.[10]

    Notes and References

    1. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 306. BAI Communications, July 1998.
    2. Downey, Julia: 2001 Plans Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 1, January 2001, page 18. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
    3. Downey, Julia: 2002 Plans Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 19, Number 1, January 2002, pages 15-16. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
    4. Downey, Julia: 2003 Plans Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 20, Number 1, January 2003, page 19. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    5. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 56. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
    6. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 134. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
    7. Web site: Piuma Original . 22 September 2011 . Danieli . Elia . 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111018082324/http://www.piumaproject.com/piumaoriginale/originalpiuma.html . 18 October 2011 .
    8. Web site: Piuma Evolution . 22 September 2011 . Danieli . Elia . 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111018082317/http://www.piumaproject.com/piumaev/piumaeving.html . 18 October 2011 .
    9. Web site: Piuma Tourer . 22 September 2011 . Danieli . Elia . 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111018082350/http://www.piumaproject.com/piumaveloce/tourerpiuma.html . 18 October 2011 .
    10. Web site: Piuma Twin Evolution . 22 September 2011 . Danieli . Elia . 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110824223610/http://www.piumaproject.com/twin/twining.html . 24 August 2011 .

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