Pazmany PL-1

The Pazmany PL-1 Laminar and Pazmany PL-2 are American two-seat trainer and personal light aircraft designed by Ladislao Pazmany to be marketed as a homebuilt aircraft by his company Pazmany Aircraft Corporation. The aircraft was built under licence in Taiwan (Republic of China) as the AIDC PL-1B Cheinshou. It was later followed by an improved version the PL-2. The SLAF Aircraft Engineering Wing developed a modified variant of the PL-2 in 1977, which never saw combat but was used in air shows.

PL-2
Pazmany PL-2 at Winter Haven Airport, Florida, in 2011
Role Two-seat trainer
Manufacturer Pazmany Aircraft Corporation
Designer Ladislao Pazmany
First flight 1962
Primary users Republic of China Air Force
Indonesian Air Force

Development

The PL-1 Laminar was the first design by Ladislao Pazmany, it was intended to be marketed for the homebuilt market. The prototype first flew on the 23 March 1962. The PL-1 is a cantilever low-wing monoplane with a fixed tricycle landing gear. It has side-by-side seating for a crew of two and is powered by a 95 hp (71 kW) Continental C-90 piston engine. The Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) acquired plans and built a PL-1 for evaluation with a first flight on 26 October 1968. AIDC then built 58 aircraft designated the PL-1B for the Republic of China Air Force and fitted with a 150 hp (112 kW) Avco Lycoming O-320 engine.

Soon after the first flight Pazmany produced an improved design, the PL-2 which had a slight increase in cockpit width and changes to the structure to make it easier for homebuilders. The PL-2 was evaluated by a number of air forces in south-east Asia. It was built under license in Indonesia as the Lipnur LT-200.

Variants
PL-1
Original design for home-built light aircraft
PL-1B
Licence built variant by AIDC with a 150hp (112kW) Avco Lycoming O-320 engine, 58 built.Known as the PL-1B Chieh Shou.
PL-2
More rounded, wider cockpit, increased wing dihedral.[1][2]
PL-2A
Improved model, all metal, two seats[3]
LT-200
Licence built variant by Lipnur (Indonesia).

Operators
Republic of China Air Force PL-1B primary trainer
 Indonesia
 South Vietnam
  • Republic of Vietnam Air Force - One aircraft only, no longer in service. Named the Tien Phong "Pioneer", built under U.S supervision. Plans for additional aircraft were cancelled in 1972[4]
 Taiwan (Republic of China)

Former Operators
 Sri Lanka

Specifications (LT-200)

Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 2694

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 19 ft 3.5 in (5.88 m)
  • Wingspan: 28 ft 0 in (8.53 m)
  • Height: 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m)
  • Wing area: 116.0 sq ft (10.78 m2)
  • Empty weight: 904 lb (410 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,609 lb (730 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Avco Lycoming O-320-E2A flat-four piston , 150 hp (112 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 152 mph (245 km/h, 132 kn)
  • Endurance: 5 hours 30 minutes
  • Service ceiling: 14,995 ft (4,570 m)

References
  1. Air Trails: 18. Winter 1971. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 114. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 120. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  4. Air Progress: 77. December 1971. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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