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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 1085.PDF
FLIGHT International, 5 July 1962 33 runways quite feasible, although hard-wood sabots can be attached to ease wear on the outriggers. The mainwheel is loaded by torsion bar to the half-extended position, so that manual retraction or extension are easy. Max Conrad is reported to have asked for the agency in the USA, hoping to sell a large number of Fourniers there. During several demonstration flights, the Fournier showed a vers short take-off run and good climb, but also a remarkably good rate of roll for what is after all a considerable span and aspect ratio. Unfortunately, Flight International was not able to sample the aircraft because it was a Government prototype and only two pilots were allowed to fly it. The new aerobatic Jodel two-seater looked handsome and business-like, and had come to Cannes from Bernay only the day after it had first flown. It has flaps and is aerobatic, as is the Super Emeraude. The rather disappointing performance of the 145 h.p. Rubis of a year ago has apparently been redeemed by the fitting of the Lycoming 250 h.p. engine, which now gives it a best cruising speed of 186 m.p.h. with four or five occupants. Best range is 1,030 miles. In our opinion, the Gardan and Fournier were the stars of the show, for all the preponderance of Rallyes and lush American types, but the Wassmer Super 4 is also well worth watching. Examples of this are to be seen on almost every touring airfield in France, and they look efficient and attractive. In England we should ask ourselves ten times a day why we have never manu factured some of these extremely attractive French types in Britain. The licences were there for the asking. The choice between metal, mixed or wooden structure was also there. Yet. except for Rollasons, we soldiered on with a pre-war vintage of high-wing types, and have been technologically and commercially overwhelmed for our trouble. Under the shadow of the vast Rallye programme, the French light-aircraft industry is having its problems, but the new aerobatic two-seaters and the four-seat tourers seem to be providing a good alternative market for those who are being pushed aside by the Rallye. Though the attendance figures belie the commercial value of the Cannes show, the prospects for next time seem to be good. Each successive light aircraft show, except the Shackleton display, seems to become a full-size show after a few years and. now that Hanover has entered the "big league," Cannes should rightly take its place for light aircraft. MARK LAMBERT Normande's new jodel ISO aerobatic two-seater Scintex's Rubis, now with 250 h.p. engine Merville's nosewheel version of the Druine Condor NEW FROM THE USA THE appearance of the Pazmany PL-1 Laminar, which maue its " first flight on March 23, has marked the arrival of a new and distinctly interesting two-seater intended for popular consumption. Conceived by Ryan (San Diego) engineer Ladislao Pazmany, assisted by Carlos Garrocq and Karl Sanders, the Laminar reflects the latest in advanced design and manufacturing techniques. In its present state the aircraft represents about 5,000 hours of plan ning. Construction of the prototype N4081K was accomplished in Maywood, California, by Keith Fowler and John Green of J. G. Engineering. While the first example is powered by a 90 h.p. Continental C90-12F, the production model is to be fitted with the 100 h.p. 0-200-A, but almost any opposed engine of up to 125 h.p. could be installed without extensive modification or strengthening of the airframe. Specifications include an overall span and length of 28ft and 19ft respectively. Gross weight is approximately 1,3201b. A. high degree of structural simplicity has been achieved and the Laminar can be produced in quantity with a minimum of tooling and man-hours. Primary structure is fabricated entirely of metal, glass-fibre being used for the nose cowl, tip tanks and outer secon dary components. Although certification is not expected to be completed for some months, considerable progress has already been made towards this end. The aircraft is stressed for 9g ultimate and will be approved in the aerobatic category. The Laminar's 26-gallon fuel supply is carried in the wingtip tanks, thus reducing fire hazard in the vicinity of the cockpit, rhis arrangement offers the added advantage of increasing the efferti e aspect ratio of the wing, the result being improved rate of clim 3 and service ceiling and reduction in wing bending moments. The flight-testing programme, conducted at Long Beach Airport by Navy test pilots Cdr Paul Hayek and Lt Dick Gordon, has only recently commenced, and for this reason official performance figures are not yet available. However, calculated data indicates a cruising speed of about 130 m.p.h. and a stalling speed of 55 m.p.h. The rate of climb at sea level is between 800 and 900ft/min at near-gross weight. Flight and handling characteristics are pleasant, the controls being light, responsive and well harmonized. The prototype Pazmany PL-1 Laminar two-seater
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