PZL M-4 Tarpan

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M-4 Tarpan
M-4 in the Polish Aviation Museum
Type	Trainer aircraft
Manufacturer	WSK-Mielec
Maiden flight	September 7, 1961
Number built	2+0

PZL M-4 Tarpan was a Polish trainer and sports aircraft prototype of the 1960s, designed in WSK-Mielec.

Contents 1 Development 2 Description 3 References 4 Related content

[edit] Development

The M-4 was designed for a demand of the Polish Aeroclub, for a trainer plane with a retractable tricycle landing gear. It was based on an earlier project M-2. The works started in 1958, and the first prototype was built in 1960. Due to a long engine developement, it first flew on September 7, 1961. Trials showed, that the weight was much higher, than estimated (890 kg instead of 748 kg), what demanded changes. In July 1964 the second prototype in M-4P variant for navigation training, was flown.

Flight characteristcs and stability of the M-4 were estimated as good, it also fit to aerobatics and rally flying. The cab offered an excellent view for the crew and the plane was overally quite successful. However, because of too high price, the Aeroclub decided not to order the plane and the production was not started. A development of the flat engine PZL WN-6 was troublesome and was finally canceled at that time as well.

In 1965 both prototypes were converted to single seater aerobatics variant M-4A, but were not used in this role much. One of M-4 prototypes is preserved in the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków.

[edit] Description

Metal construction low-wing monoplane, conventional in layout, metal covered. Semi-monocoque fuselage. Trapezoid two-spar wings. Crew of two, sitting in tandem, under a common canopy, with double controls (student in front, instructor in rear). Retractable tricycle landing gear. Two-blade wooden propeller of variable pitch (diameter 2 m). Fuel tanks in wings (140 l).

General characteristics

• Crew: 1, instructor
• Capacity: 1, student
• Length: 7.35 m ()
• Wingspan: 8.85 m ()
• Height: 2.61 m ()
• Wing area: 11.79 m² ()
• Empty weight: 888 kg ()
• Loaded weight: 1200 kg ()
• Powerplant: 1× WN-6B air-cooled 6-cylinder boxer engine, 195 HP (143 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 285 km/h
• Cruise speed: 260 km/h
• Stall speed: <106 km/h ()
• Range: 750 km ()
• Service ceiling: 4400 m ()
• Rate of climb: 4.2 m/s ()

[edit] References

• Janusz Babiejczuk, Jerzy Grzegorzewski: Polski przemysł lotniczy 1945-1973, Warsaw 1973 (Polish language)

[edit] Related content