Perl PG-130 Penetrator
| PG-130 Penetrator | |
|---|---|
| Role | Glider |
| National origin | United States |
| Designer | Harry Perl |
| First flight | 1953 |
| Status | Sole example in the National Soaring Museum |
| Produced | 1953 |
| Number built | One |
The Perl PG-130 Penetrator is an American mid-wing, single-seat glider that was designed and constructed by Harry Perl.[1][2]
Design and development
[edit]The PG-130 was completed in 1953. The aircraft has a wooden structure, with the wings and tail covered in doped aircraft fabric covering. The 48 ft (14.6 m) span wing employs a Göttingen Gö 549 airfoil and features dive brakes. The wing has a foam-filled leading edge. The tail is an all-flying design. The aircraft originally took off from a jettisonable take-off dolly and landed on a fixed skid, but was later modified with a fixed monowheel.[1][2][3]
The sole example of the PG-130 was registered with the US Federal Aviation Administration as an Experimental - Amateur-built.[2]
Operational history
[edit]Soaring Magazine reported in 1983 that Perl still owned the aircraft and was flying it at that time. The PG-130 was removed from the FAA register prior to 1989 and now belongs to the National Soaring Museum, where it was listed as "in storage" in June 2011.[2][4]
Aircraft on display
[edit]- National Soaring Museum - in storage[5]
Specifications (PG-130)
[edit]Data from Sailplane Directory, Soaring and The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage[1][2][3]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Wingspan: 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m)
- Wing area: 130 sq ft (12 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 17.75:1
- Airfoil: Göttingen Gö 549
- Empty weight: 480 lb (218 kg)
- Gross weight: 680 lb (308 kg)
Performance
- Maximum glide ratio: 33 at 52 mph (84 km/h)
- Rate of sink: 126 ft/min (0.64 m/s) at 44 mph (71 km/h)
- Wing loading: 5.23 lb/sq ft (25.5 kg/m2)
See also
[edit]Related development
- Nelson Hummingbird PG-185B - another Perl design for Nelson Aircraft
Related lists
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Activate Media (2006). "Penetrator PG-130 Perl". Archived from the original on August 19, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Said, Bob: 1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, page 52. Soaring Society of America November 1983. USPS 499-920
- ^ a b Lednicer, David (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". Archived from the original on April 20, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
- ^ Federal Aviation Administration (June 2011). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved June 8, 2011.
- ^ National Soaring Museum (2011). "Sailplanes in Our Collection". Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.