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]

Contents

Design and development

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

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

Specifications (PG-130)

Data from Sailplane Directory, Soaring and the The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage[1][2][3]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development

Related lists

References