Transavia PL-12 Airtruk

Infobox Aircraft
name = Airtruk

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caption =
type = Agricultural aircraft
national origin = Australia
manufacturer = Transavia
designer = Luigi Pellarini
first flight = 22 April 1965
introduction =
retired =
status =
primary user =
more users =
produced = 1966-1993 [ [http://8.5.0.95/info/stats.main?id=379 Aircraft Information: Transavia Airtruk & Skyfarmer] "Airliners.net". Retrieved 3 August 2008.]
number built =
program cost =
unit cost =
developed from = Bennett Airtruck
variants with their own articles =

The Transavia PL-12 Airtruk is a single-engine agricultural sesquiplane aircraft designed by Transavia in Australia. The Airtruk is of all metal construction with the cockpit mounted above a tractor engine and short pod fuselage with rear doors. It has twin tail booms with two unconnected tails. Its first flight was in 22 April 1965, and was certificated on 10 February 1966.

Overview

It was developed from the Bennett Airtruck designed in New Zealand by Luigi Pellarini. It has a 1 tonne capacity hopper and is able to ferry two passengers as a topdresser. It can be used as a cargo, ambulance or aerial survey aircraft, and carry one passenger in the top deck and four in the lower deck.

The Airtruk is also sometimes known as the Airtruck. Because the name "Airtruck" was registered by the New Zealand companies Bennett Aviation ltd and Waitomo Aircraft ltd, for their PL-11, Transavia found another name for their PL-12 ("Airtruk").

July 1978 saw the first flight of an improved modelled, the T-300 Skyfarmer, which was powered by a Textron Lycoming IO-540-engine. This was followed in 1981 by the T-300A with improved aerodynamics.

At least 120 had been built by 1988.

The PL-12 was featured in the 1985 movie "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome".

As at 2008, there are at least three examples in museums in New Zealand, with an additional one being restored to airworthy status. The second prototype is preserved in the Powerhouse Museum collection, Sydney, Australia. [ [http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=83844&search=Australian+design&
] "Powerhouse Museum". Retrieved 3 August 2008.]

Variants

; PL-12 Airtruk : Single-engined agricultural aircraft. Powered by 300 hp (224 kW) Rolls Royce Continental IO-520-D ; PL-12U: Multi-purpose utility transport, air ambulance, aerial survey aircraft.; T-320 Airtruk: Powered by a 320-hp Rolls-Royce/Continental Tiara 6-320-2B piston engine. Taylor 1977, p.8.] ; Skyfarmer T-300 : Powered by Lycoming O-540 engine.; Skyfarmer T-300A : Improved version of the T-300.; Skyfarmer T-400: Enlarged, more powerful (400 hp (298 kW) Teledyne Lycoming IO-720 engine. ; PL-12 MIL: Proposed multi-role utility transport, air ambulance, forward air control, light attack, counter-insurgency aircraft. Also known as the M-300. Donald 1997, p.877.] ; PL-12 550T: Proposed variant powered by a 550-hp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT-6A turboprop engine.

pecifications (T-300A)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=Jane's All the Worlds Aircraft 1988-89 Taylor 1988, p.7.]
crew=1
capacity= 907 kg (2,000 lb) dry chemicals or 818 litres (216 US Gallons, 180 Imp Gallons) liquids. Two passengers.
length main= 6.35 m
length alt= 20 ft 10 in
span main= 11.98 m
span alt= 39 ft 3½ in
height main= 2.79 m
height alt= 9 ft 2 in
area main= 24.5 m²
area alt= 264 ft²
airfoil=NACA 23012
empty weight main= 1,017 kg
empty weight alt= 2,242 lb
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 1,925 kg
max takeoff weight alt= 4,244 lb
more general=

engine (prop)=Textron Lycoming IO-540-K1A5
type of prop=flat-six piston engine
number of props=1
power main= 224 kW
power alt= 300 hp
power original=

max speed main= 196 km/h
max speed alt= 106 knots, 122 mph
max speed more=at 915 m (3,000 ft)
cruise speed main= 188 km/h
cruise speed alt= 102 knots, 117 mph
cruise speed more= (max cruise -75% power)
stall speed main= 73 km/h
stall speed alt= 39 knots, 45 mph
never exceed speed main= 274 km/h
never exceed speed alt= 148 knots, 170 mph
range main= km
range alt= nm, mi
ceiling main= 6,890 m
ceiling alt= 22,600 ft
climb rate main= 7.62 m/s
climb rate alt= 1,500 ft/min
loading main= 78.6 kg/m²
loading alt= 16.1 lb/ft²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.12 kW/kg
power/mass alt= 0.071 hp/lb
more performance=

armament=

avionics=

References

Cites

Bibliography

*Donald, David (editor). "The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft". Leicester, UK: Blitz, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
*Taylor, John W R. (editor). "Jane's All the Worlds Aircraft 1976-77". London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1976. ISBN 0 354 00538 3.
*Taylor, John W R. (editor). "Jane's All the Worlds Aircraft 1988-89". Coulsdon, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group, 1988. ISBN 0 7106-0867-5.

External links

* [http://rnzaf.proboards43.com/index.cgi?board=civil&action=display&thread=6108 Discussion on the PL-12 in New Zealand aviation forum]
* [http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/airtruk.html Transavia PL-12 Airtruk] , kiwiaircraftimages.com