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{{Short description|1966 agricultural aircraft family by Transavia}}
{{Infobox aircraft
| name = PL-12 Airtruk
| image = Transavia PL12 Airtruk Hazair 03.88.jpg
| caption = Hazair PL-12 Airtruks at [[Albury Airport]] in March 1988
| type = Agricultural aircraft
| national_origin = Australia
| manufacturer = [[Transavia Corporation]]
| designer = Luigi Pellarini
| first_flight = 22 April 1965
| developed_from = [[Bennett Airtruck|PL-11 Airtruck]]
| produced = 1966-1993 <ref>[http://www.airliners.net/aircraft-data/stats.main?id=379 "The Transavia Airtruk & Skyfarmer"] ''Airliners.net''. Retrieved 27 October 2013.</ref> <!--Years in production (e.g. 1970-1999) if still in active use but no longer built -->
| number_built = 138
}}
The '''Transavia PL-12 Airtruk''' is a single-engine [[agricultural aircraft]] designed and built by the [[Transavia Corporation]] in Australia. The Airtruk is a shoulder-wing strut braced [[sesquiplane]] of all-metal construction, with the cockpit mounted above a [[Tractor configuration|tractor-___location]] opposed-cylinder air-cooled engine and short pod fuselage with rear door. The engine cowling, rear fuselage and top decking are of fibreglass. It has a tricycle undercarriage, the main units of which are carried on the lower sesquiplane wings. It has twin tail booms with two unconnected tails. Its first flight was on 22 April 1965, and was [[Type certificate|certified]] on 10 February 1966.<ref name="Janes 88 p7"/>
A Transavia PL-12 featured in the 1985 movie ''[[Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome]]''.
==Design and development==
[[File:PL12 Airtruk ZK-CVD Barr Bros ARD 15.10.73 edited-3.jpg|thumb|right|Head on view showing the PL12s deep fuselage and twin fins on trailing booms]]
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 [[Aerial topdressing|topdresser]]. Other versions can be used as 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 and Waitomo Aircraft, for their [[Bennett Airtruck|PL-11]], Transavia found another name for its PL-12 ("Airtruk").
July 1978 saw the first flight of an improved model, the '''T-300 Skyfarmer''', which was powered by a [[Lycoming O-540|Textron Lycoming IO-540]]-engine. This was followed in 1981 by the '''T-300A''' with improved aerodynamics.<ref name="Janes 88 p7"/> Transavia ceased production of the T-300 in 1985.
In 1982, certification was undertaken to enable sales in the North American market. Assistance was provided by the [[Defence Science and Technology Group|Aeronautical Research Laboratories]] of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and extensive tests carried out on the ground and in subsequent flight flutter clearance trials. <ref> DSTO Structures Tech. Memo. 341</ref>
In 1985, an extended version was produced and released as the T-400. The engine was changed from a 6-cylinder to an 8-cylinder and the tail booms extended by {{convert|750|mm|in}}. Other minor changes were made to the aerodynamics. Flutter clearance tests were again carried out by ARL and manufacture proceeded.<ref>{{cite book | isbn = 9780642097453 | title = Flutter clearance tests on a Transavia PL-12/T-400 Skyfarmer | author1 = Goldman, A. | author2 = Galea, S. | year = 1985 | publisher = Aeronautical Research Laboratories | ___location = Melbourne }}</ref>
An isolated flutter incident was reported in 1986 involving violent oscillations of the rudder and tail boom on the T-400 during a delivery flight. Investigations were carried out by ARL, and a split mass balance arm was fitted to each rudder. Prior to this, the aircraft had relied on frictional damping provided by the lengthy control cables. The modified aircraft was tested both on the ground and in flight trials in March 1988 over Port Philip, near Melbourne, Australia. All attempts to induce the oscillations showed that there was no indication of a mode of vibration becoming unstable. The maximum speed achieved was {{convert|160|kn|mph km/h}} in a steep dive. Oscillations were induced with an air operated tool fitted with an out-of-balance rotating mass. This device had a rotational speed from 18 Hz down to zero for each charge of the compressed air cylinder.<ref>{{cite book| title = ARL-STRUC-TM-515 Flutter investigations on a Transavia PL12/T-400 aircraft | url = http://hdl.handle.net/1947/9669 | author1 = Goldman, A. | author2 = Rider, C.D. | author3 = Piperias, P. | publisher = Aeronautical Research Laboratory | ___location = Melbourne}}</ref>
At least 120 had been built by 1988.<ref name="Janes 88 p7"/>
==Operations and survivors==
[[File:AirTruk at Temora Airport October 2018.jpg|thumb|Airtruk at Temora Airport, NSW, Australia (2018)]]
;Australia
*The second prototype is preserved at the [[Powerhouse Museum]] in [[Sydney]].<ref>[http://www.powermusemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=83844&search=Australian+design&images=&c=&s=1 Transavia Airtruk PL-12, Australia, 1965, VH-TRN] [[Powerhouse Museum]] Retrieved 3 August 2008.</ref>
*Two PL-12s, including one assembled from parts of two aircraft, are on display at the [[Queensland Air Museum]], [[Caloundra Airport]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.qldairmuseum.au/qam-content/aircraft/airtruk/VH-HSB.htm |title=TRANSAVIA PL-12 AIRTRUK ZK-CWX C/N 818 – QAM, Queensland Air Museum |website=qam.com.au |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date=}} </ref>
;Denmark
*A PL-12 is on display and under restoration at the [[Danmarks Flymuseum]] at [[Stauning Vestjylland Airport]] in western Jutland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://flymuseum.dk/ |title=Danmarks Flymuseum - Forside |publisher=Flymuseum.dk |date= |accessdate=2022-05-02}}</ref>
;New Zealand
*A PL-12 is on display at the [[Museum of Transport & Technology]], [[Auckland]], New Zealand<ref>https://collection.motat.nz/objects/27368/aircraft-transavia-pl-12-airtruk-zk-cvb</ref>
;Spain
*A PL-12 is located at the [[Museum of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Madrid)|Museum of Aeronautics and Astronautics]], Madrid–Cuatro Vientos Airport.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 August 2018 |title=Las novedades del Museo del Aire que también se podrán ver en agosto - Noticias Defensa España |url=https://www.defensa.com/espana/novedades-museo-aire-tambien-podran-ver-agosto}}</ref>
'''Indonesia'''
A PL-12 is placed at the entrance to a golf course (Padang golf Halim) in Halim Perdana Kusuma.
==Variants==
[[File:Transavia PL-12 Airtruck 2.jpg|thumb|right|Transavia PL-12-300 Airtruk preserved at the [[Museo del Aire (Madrid)|Museo del Aire]] at Cuatro Vientos airfield near Madrid]]
; PL-12 Airtruk
: Single-engined agricultural aircraft. Powered by 300 hp (224 kW) [[Continental O-520|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 [[Continental Tiara series|Continental/Rolls-Royce Tiara 6-320-2B]] piston engine.<ref name="Janes 76 p8">Taylor 1977, p.8.</ref>
; 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) [[Lycoming O-720]] engine.<ref name="Janes 88 p7"/>
; PL-12 MIL
: Proposed multi-role utility transport, air ambulance, forward air control, light attack, counter-insurgency aircraft. Also known as the '''M-300'''.<ref name="Donald world p877">Donald 1997, p.877.</ref>
; PL-12 550T
: Proposed variant powered by a {{convert|550|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6|Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A]] [[turboprop]] engine.<ref name="Donald world p877"/>
==Specifications (PL-12)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=<ref name=JAWA75-76>{{cite book|editor1-last=Taylor|editor1-first=John W.R.|title=Jane's all the world's aircraft, 1975-76|date=1975|publisher=Franklin Watts Inc.|___location=New York|isbn=978-0531032503|edition=66th annual|pages=9–10}}</ref> Jane's All the Worlds Aircraft 1988-89 <ref name="Janes 88 p7">Taylor 1988, p.7.</ref>
|prime units?=kts
<!--
General characteristics
-->
|genhide=
|crew=1
|capacity=2 passengers / {{convert|2000|lb|abbr=on}} dry chemicals or {{convert|818|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}} liquids
|length m=6.4
|span m=11.98
|height m=2.74
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=23.8
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=[[NACA airfoil|NACA 23012]]
|empty weight kg=775
|empty weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=1855
|max takeoff weight note=(agricultural mission)
|fuel capacity={{convert|181.5|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}} in two upper wing fuel tanks with optional second tank in each wing for a total of {{convert|373|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}}
|more general=
<!--
Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Rolls-Royce/Continental IO-520-D]]
|eng1 type=6-cylinder air-cooled horizontally opposed piston engine
|eng1 hp=300
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=[[McCauley Propeller Systems|McCauley]] constant speed metal propeller
|prop dia m=2.23
<!--
Performance
-->
|max speed kts=103
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kts=95
|cruise speed note=at 75% power at sea level ISA
|stall speed kts=52
|stall speed note=flaps down
|never exceed speed kts=180
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range miles=
|combat range nmi=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|climb rate ms=3
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=79
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=0.12 kW/kg (0.073 hp/lb)
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
== See also ==
'''Aircraft of similar role, configuration, or era'''
* [[Grumman Ag Cat]]
==References==
===Notes===
{{reflist}}
===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==
{{commons category|Transavia PL-12 Airtruk}}
* [http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/airtruk.html Transavia PL-12 Airtruk], kiwiaircraftimages.com * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUrmxc-yu_w&feature=emb_title Airtruk Capability], Transfeild Promotional Video
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=00&v=MEoR_fvGo4k&feature=emb_title The First Airtruks], Transfeild Promotional Video
[[Category:
[[Category:
[[Category:Sesquiplanes]]
[[Category:Shoulder-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1965]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear]]
[[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]
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