Pazmany PL.1

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Member for

14 years 6 months

Posts: 58

Whilst researching the ill-fated BAC. TSR.2 project, I came across an intriguing snippet that the aircraft, or at least a part of it may still be flying to this day !

Pazmany PL.1 Laminar …

The story starts with a two seat light aircraft intended for amateur construction known as the ‘Pazmany PL.1 Laminar’. Concieved by Ladislao Pazmany, of the Pazmany Aircraft Corporation, (then chief design engineer for the San Diego Aircraft Engineering Company) and designed in asociation with Carlos Garrocq and Karl Sanders. Some 5,000 design hours and 4,000 hours of construction went into the prototype aircraft constructed by John Green and Keith Fowler, which was finally completed by early 1962.
The ‘PL.1’ made its first flight on 23rd March, 1962 piloted by Cdr. Paul Hayek, USN. and Lieut. Richard Gordon, NASA. astronaut of the Gemini and Apollo space programmes. By January 1973 this prototype aircraft had amassed over 1,800 successful flying hours.
Shortly after flight trials of the ‘PL.1’ began, it was decided to initiate a complete redesign of the aircraft. The developed design, the ‘PL.2’ being almost identical in external configuration to the earlier aircraft, although differing extensively in internal structure, to both simplify construction and reduce weight.
A total of 375 sets of plans and instructions for building the ‘PL.1’ had been sold to amateur and professional constructors by 1969, before the similar ‘PL.2’ became avaliable. Examples of the former being completed in the USA. Canada, Australia, Norway, and Japan, as well as in the UK. and a number of other countries.

Military Use …

Early in 1968 the Chinese Nationalist Air Force was seeking a small aircraft suitable for the primary training role, which could be built within Taiwan and thus help revive the countries own aircraft manufacturing base. Assisted by Col. R.S. Robinson, USAF. Senior Adviser to the CNAF. The ‘PL.1’ was chosen as the type most suitable for this purpose. The first aircraft of this type was built by personnel of the Aeronautical Research laboratory of the CNAF. in an impressive 100 days, and was flown for the first time on 26th October 1968. The 58 production aircraft built by the AIDC. known as the ‘PL.1B’, differed from the basic airframe by the substitution of a 112KW. (150 HP.) ‘Lycoming O-320’ engine as well as having a larger rudder and other features of the ‘PL.2’.
A number of air forces in the region followed the CNAF. lead by completing examples of the ‘PL.1/2’ for evaluation and use in the training role, these being, Royal Thai Air Force x3 ‘PL.1A’, x40 ‘PL.1B’, Army x10 ‘PL.1B’, Republic of Korea Air Force x4 ‘PL.2’, Vietnamese Air Force x1 ‘PL.2’, and the Indonesian air Force x6? ‘PL.2’. A further development of the ‘PL.2’ was completed by students of the Aeronautical Technical School, ‘ENET.1’ in Argentina. Known as the ‘PL.3 Guri’, this aircraft designed for series production, differed in having internal wing fuel tanks in place of the standard wing tip tanks, a drooped LE. and a larger diameter undercarriage for use on unprepared surfaces.

The TSR.2 connection … (to be confirmed)

The sole ? example of the ‘PL.1’ on the British register G-BDHJ, was completed during 197… by … making its first flight on … 1971
This aircraft could almost justify being included in the TSR.2 surviving artifacts listing … … some of the metal destined for production TSR.2 aircraft was instead used in the manufacture of G-BDHJ ?
Currently owned by Leslie Greenbough and based at Bodmin Aerodrome, Cornwall, where at the time of writing the aircraft was undergoing a major overhaul ?

Specifications and airframe details …

The data tabled below refers to the prototype PL.1, although the specifications are essentially similar for all aircraft of the type.

Aircraft type : Two seat all metal cantilever low wing monoplane.
Wing Span : 28 Ft. 0 Ins. (8.53 m.)
Wing Chord : 4 Ft. 2 Ins. (1.27 m.) constant
Wing Area (Gross) : 116 Sq. Ft. (10.78 m. sq.)
Wing Aspect Ratio : 6.7
Length (O/A.) : 18 Ft. 11 Ins. (5.77 m.)
Height (O/A.) : 8 Ft. 8 Ins. (2.64 m.)
Tail Span : 8 Ft. 0 Ins. (2.44 m.)
Structure (Wings) : One piece single spar structure with LE. torsion box.
Plain piano hinged metal ailerons and flaps. 3° dihedral.
Structure (Fuselage) : Conventional semi-monocoque structure with flat and single
curvature skinning.
Structure (Tail Unit) : Swept back fin and rudder, one-piece horizontal surface with
anti servo tab also acting as a trimming surface.
Undercarriage : Fixed tricycle type (interchangable), steerable nosewheel.
Track, 8 Ft. 2 Ins. (2.50 m.) Base, 4 Ft. 3 Ins. (1.30 m.)
Powerplant : 71KW. (95HP.) Continental C90-12F flat four engine.
Fuel Capacity : Total capacity 94 litres (2x 47 litre wingtip fuel tanks)
Accomodation : Two seats mounted side by side with dual controls under large
rearward sliding cockpit canopy.
Cabin Length: : 4 Ft. 2 Ins. (1.27 m.)
Cabin Height: : 3 Ft. 4 Ins. (1.02 m.)
Cabin Width: : 3 Ft. 4 Ins. (1.02 m.)

References …

Janes, All the Worlds Aircraft, 1968/69, 1970/71, 1971/72, 1973/74, 1976/77, 1979/80, 1989/90
Internet site address, http://www.totavia.com/jetman/tsr2/survivors.html#FLY
Photograph’s via. Albert E. Hooper, Par, Cornwall, aviation enthusiast

Original post

Member for

16 years 4 months

Posts: 58

Paznany PL1 G-BDHJ

Just a little more info on G-BDHJ for you,TSR. The aircraft was built at home
by the late Harold Jones,at Stretton,Staffs,which explains the reg ending in HJ,the BD part being his wife,Brenda Dorothy.It was completed , if my memory serves me correctly,late 76 or early 77,with the first flight made at Halfpenny Green by the then CFI Mike Edwards.What ever the exact dates were it was ready for Harold to fly to the 1977 PFA rally,where he won the Air Squadron Trophy for the best homebuilt of the year.Last I heard it was stored dismantled at Sleap. (Pls see link.)

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Pazmany-PL-1/1404381/L/&sid=db3d043c8697966a664492d48edb019a

Member for

16 years 4 months

Posts: 58

G-BDHJ

Just a couple of pics with ref to my previous reply:-

HJ airborne & Harold Jones with '77 Air Squadron Trophy

(And if anyone knows future plans for G-BDHJ,Iwould love to know)--Balliol.

Additional info:-Have just spoken to Brenda Jones who confirms use of TSR2 material.She remembers going with Harold to get it.Stored photos taken during construction would be available at a later date.
Please send PM if required-------Regards , Balliol.

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Member for

18 years 5 months

Posts: 1,031

I had a number of flights in 'HJ when she was based at Bodmin with Les Greenhough, but she has been gone from there for a number of years now (Les lives in Eire) and I've just had a look on G-INFO and the aircraft is de-registered.

From what I can remember he used in a part exchange deal to get another aeroplane.

Martin