Platzer Motte Explained

The Platzer Motte (en|[[Moth]]) is a German amateur-built aircraft designed by Michael Platzer and made available in the form of plans for amateur construction.^{[1] [2]}

Design and development

The Motte features a strut-braced parasol wing configuration, single-seat open cockpit with a small windshield, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.^{[1] [2]}

The aircraft uses the same wing design as the Platzer Kiebitz biplane. The Motte's fuselage is made from metal tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric. Its 8.21NaN1 span wing has an area of 13m2 supported by V-struts and jury struts. Engines used include the 650NaN0 Nissan 12P automotive engine from a Nissan Micra, as well as the 510NaN0 Rotax 462 powerplant.^{[1] [2]}

Pilot access can be difficult due to the proximity of the wing mounted close above the cockpit. Builders have solved this with a trailing edge wing cut-out.^{[1] [2]}

Operational history

The Motte was Platzer's first design, but his later two-seat Kiebitz biplane has proven much more popular than the Motte with builders.^{[1] [2]}

Notes and References

1. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 110. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
2. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 117. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015.