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 cantilevermonoplane 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 60 hp (45 kW)[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]
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-235flat-four engine and a conventional tail. Maximum take-off weight is 1,250 lb (567 kg).[13]
Specifications
Data fromJane's All the World's Aircraft 1985–86, p.608