Pazmany PL-4 explained

The Pazmany PL-4A is a single-seat, single-engine sport aircraft developed in the United States^[1] and first flown in 1972.^[2] It is marketed for homebuilding from plans, and 686 sets had sold by 1985.^[2] The PL-4A is a conventional, low-wing cantilever monoplane with an enclosed cabin and fixed, tailwheel undercarriage.^{[2] [3]} The design features a T-tail, chosen to facilitate folding the wings.^{[3] [4]} Construction throughout is of metal, using standard extruded sections for the longerons^[2] and pop rivets as the basic fastener. The standard powerplant is a Volkswagen air-cooled engine of 600NaN0^{[5] [6]} Construction time is estimated to be around 1,000–1,500 hours.^{[7] [8]}

The PL-4A won the "Outstanding New Design" and "Outstanding Contribution to Low-Cost Flying" awards at the 1972 EAA Fly-In.^{[9] [10]} By 2000 more than 50 had been built and flown.^[11]

Variants

Pazmany PL-4A: Standard single seater, normally powered by a 600NaN0 Volkswagen air-cooled engine with V-belt drive reduction.^[12]

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).^[13]

References

Bibliography

• Dwiggins . Don . Don Dwiggins . Pazmany VW-Engine Homebuilt . Plane & Pilot . April 1973 . 76–79 .
• Book: Taylor, John W. R. . Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1984-1985. 1984. Jane's Publishing Co.. London. 0710608012.
• Book: Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1985–86 . registration . Jane's Publications . London .
• Book: Markowski, Mark . The Encyclopedia of Homebuilt Aircraft . 1979 . TAB Books . Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania . 0-8306-2256-X .
• Pazmany . Ladislao . The Pazmany PL-4A is flying . Sport Aviation . March 1973 . 32–39.
• Pazmany's PL-4 Features 'T'-tail and VW engine . Sport Flying . October 1972 . 40–43 .
• Book: Simpson, Rod. Airlife's World Aircraft. 2001. Airlife Publishing Ltd . Shrewsbury . 978-1-84037-115-4.
• Book: Taylor, Michael J. H. . Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation . 1989 . Studio Editions . London . 0-7106-0710-5 .

Notes and References

1. Taylor 1989, p.717
2. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1985–86, p.608
3. Markowski 1979, p.241
4. "Pazmany's PL-4 Features 'T'-tail and VW engine" 1972, p.40
5. Markowski 1979, p.245
6. "Pazmany's PL-4 Features 'T'-tail and VW engine" 1972, p.43
7. Pazmany 1973, p.39
8. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 114. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
9. Markowski 1979, p.246
10. Dwiggins 1973, p.78
11. Simpson 2001, p.418
12. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 121. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015.
13. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1984/5 p.571