The Pilatus B4-PC11 (also known as the PC-11 in the Pilatus numbering sequence) is an all-metal intermediate
glider
Glider may refer to:
Aircraft and transport Aircraft
* Glider (aircraft), heavier-than-air aircraft primarily intended for unpowered flight
** Glider (sailplane), a rigid-winged glider aircraft with an undercarriage, used in the sport of glidin ...
built by
Pilatus Aircraft
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. is an aerospace manufacturer located in Stans, Switzerland. In June 2016, the company employed 1,905 people.
The company has mostly produced aircraft for niche markets, in particular short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraf ...
of
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
.
The B4-PC11 is designed to
Standard Class specifications, meaning that it has a 15-metre wingspan and no flaps.
Air brakes are provided on the top surface of each wing for glidepath control. Construction is aluminium, with foam ribs in the mainplane, fin and tailplane.
Development
The design of this glider originated in the 1960s, when the company
Firma Rheintalwerke G. Basten (from which the "B" in the original designation is derived) manufactured the first two prototypes. The designers were Ingo Herbst, Manfred Küppers and Rudolf Reinke. The first flight of the first prototype took place on 7 November 1966. However, no series production was started.
In 1972 Pilatus bought the manufacturing licence for the B-4 and renamed it the B4-PC11. In the spring of the same year the first production example (numbered HB-1100) made its first flight.
A total of 322 B4-PC11s of all versions were built by Pilatus by 1980, when the license to manufacture the craft was sold to
Nippi Aircraft of Japan, who built only 13 examples, plus a two-seater designated the Nippi B4T.
[http://www.nippi.co.jp/history/history1980.html B4T in History of Nippi company (in Japanese:Click PHOTO icon after word B4T to see the photo)]
Subsequently, in 1994,
EWMS Technomanagement bought the rights to produce and service the B4-PC11. This company also specializes in renovating and upgrading older B4-PC11 craft. In addition, it manufactures a motorized B4-PC11.
Variants
;B4-PC11: permitted to fly a number of
aerobatic
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in conventional passenger-carrying flights. The term is a portmanteau of "aerial" and "acrobatics". Aerobatics are performed in aeroplanes and glid ...
manoeuvres, it was not permitted to do inverted loops or flick/snap/quick maneuvers. The B4-PC11 was available with either fixed or retractable landing gear.
;B4-PC11A: developed to perform inverted loops and was also able to handle higher
g-force
The gravitational force equivalent, or, more commonly, g-force, is a measurement of the type of force per unit mass – typically acceleration – that causes a perception of weight, with a g-force of 1 g (not gram in mass measure ...
s.
;B4-PC11AF: released in 1975, with full aerobatic capabilities.
;Lynch B4M1: a motor glider conversion in Australia by John F. Lynch, powered by a
König SC 430
The König SC 430 is a three-cylinder, two-stroke, single ignition radial aircraft engine designed for powered paragliders and single place ultralight trikes.Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page G-5 Cybair L ...
engine.
The changes in construction from B4-PC11 through A and AF variants were to add extra ribs through the fuselage section (increasing torsional rigidity, only AF variant), and to modify the control column stops and shorten the rudder, giving greater control surface deflection.
Specifications
See also
References
* Hardy, M. ''Gliders & Sailplanes of the World''. Ian Allan, 1982
{{Pilatus aircraft
PC-11
1960s Swiss sailplanes
Glider aircraft
High-wing aircraft
T-tail aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1966