In response to the 1973 oil crisis, the EAA launched "Project Econoplane" to develop an aircraft with high fuel economy that would therefore be affordable for its members to operate.[1] The Pober Pixie was the result, with a Volkswagen air-cooled engine of 1835 cc[2] and a fuel consumption of 3 to 3.5 US Gal (11 to 13 L) per hour. Plans were completed in January 1974 and the prototype flew in late July, in time for the EAA Annual Convention that year.
After the convention, the prototype was returned to the workshop for modifications, including installation of a 60 hp (45 kW) Limbach SL 1700 EA engine and Rehm 5330 two-blade fixed-pitch propeller, details of which were incorporated into the plans.
Designedit
The Pixie fuselage is fabricated from welded 4130 steel tube, while the wings are made from Sitka spruce covered with Stits Poly-fiber fabric. Recommended engines include Volkswagen or the Continental A65.[3]
The design includes full-span ailerons that give it a high roll rate with minimal adverse yaw.[1][2]
Similar in many respects to the Heath Parasol, the Pixie is a modernization of the helmet-and-goggle days of the 1930s. The large wing and full-span ailerons make for easy flying. With minimal taildragger experience, the Pixie is a breeze to handle on the ground. Landings are gentle affairs, visibility in cruise is outstanding and using it with skis adds another dimension of fun.[3]
Paul Poberezny developed some drawings and started design and partial welding of a fuselage for a two-seat model. Michael Hoye of Heath Texas purchased the project in 1989, continued the design, and over a period of ten years completed building a single scratch built example of a tandem two-seat Pixie in 2000. This aircraft won an "outstanding workmanship" award at Airventure 2001 and was featured as the cover story by noted author Budd Davisson in the January 2002 issue of Sport Aviation magazine.[6]
^Transport Canada (28 March 2017). "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register". Retrieved 28 March 2017.
^"Pober Pixie One-of-a-kind scratch-built airplane". Sport Aviation. January 2002.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 347.
Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977-78. London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 538.
AirVenture Museum website on the type
EAA specification sheet for Pober Pixie
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pober Pixie.
January 01, 1970
pober, pixie, single, seat, light, aircraft, that, designed, united, states, 1974, marketed, plans, homebuilding, pixie, pober, pixie, built, 1980, seen, 2006, role, recreational, aircraft, manufacturer, acro, sport, plans, designer, paul, poberezny, first, fl. The Pober Pixie is a single seat light aircraft that was designed in the United States in 1974 and marketed as plans for homebuilding 1 2 Pixie Pober P9 Pixie built in 1980 seen in 2006 Role Recreational aircraft Manufacturer Acro Sport plans Designer Paul Poberezny First flight July 1974 It is a conventional parasol wing monoplane with fixed tailwheel undercarriage and a single open cockpit The design was inspired by the Heath Parasol 1 2 Contents 1 Development 2 Design 3 Operational history 4 Variants 5 Specifications typical Pixie 6 References 7 External linksDevelopment editIn response to the 1973 oil crisis the EAA launched Project Econoplane to develop an aircraft with high fuel economy that would therefore be affordable for its members to operate 1 The Pober Pixie was the result with a Volkswagen air cooled engine of 1835 cc 2 and a fuel consumption of 3 to 3 5 US Gal 11 to 13 L per hour Plans were completed in January 1974 and the prototype flew in late July in time for the EAA Annual Convention that year After the convention the prototype was returned to the workshop for modifications including installation of a 60 hp 45 kW Limbach SL 1700 EA engine and Rehm 5330 two blade fixed pitch propeller details of which were incorporated into the plans Design editThe Pixie fuselage is fabricated from welded 4130 steel tube while the wings are made from Sitka spruce covered with Stits Poly fiber fabric Recommended engines include Volkswagen or the Continental A65 3 The design includes full span ailerons that give it a high roll rate with minimal adverse yaw 1 2 Aircraft Spruce and Specialty says of the design Similar in many respects to the Heath Parasol the Pixie is a modernization of the helmet and goggle days of the 1930s The large wing and full span ailerons make for easy flying With minimal taildragger experience the Pixie is a breeze to handle on the ground Landings are gentle affairs visibility in cruise is outstanding and using it with skis adds another dimension of fun 3 Operational history editBy March 2017 27 examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration and six with Transport Canada 4 5 Variants editPober Pixie II Paul Poberezny developed some drawings and started design and partial welding of a fuselage for a two seat model Michael Hoye of Heath Texas purchased the project in 1989 continued the design and over a period of ten years completed building a single scratch built example of a tandem two seat Pixie in 2000 This aircraft won an outstanding workmanship award at Airventure 2001 and was featured as the cover story by noted author Budd Davisson in the January 2002 issue of Sport Aviation magazine 6 Specifications typical Pixie editGeneral characteristics Crew one pilot Length 17 ft 3 in 5 26 m Wingspan 29 ft 10 in 9 09 m Height 6 ft 2 in 1 88 m Wing area 134 sq ft 12 45 m2 Empty weight 543 lb 246 kg Gross weight 900 lb 408 kg Powerplant 1 converted Volkswagen air cooled engine or Limbach SL 1700 EA 60 hp 45 kW Performance Maximum speed 130 mph 209 km h 110 kn Cruise speed 83 mph 134 km h 72 kn Range 290 mi 467 km 250 nmi Service ceiling 12 500 ft 3 810 m Rate of climb 500 ft min 2 54 m s References edit a b c d Plane and Pilot 1978 Aircraft Directory page 140 Werner amp Werner Corp Santa Monica CA 1977 ISBN 0 918312 00 0 a b c d Tacke Willi Marino Boric et al World Directory of Light Aviation 2015 16 pages 91 Flying Pages Europe SARL 2015 ISSN 1368 485X a b Aircraft Spruce and Specialty 2009 POBER PIXIE Archived from the original on 2009 04 29 Retrieved 2009 07 06 Federal Aviation Administration 28 March 2017 Make Model Inquiry Results Retrieved 28 March 2017 Transport Canada 28 March 2017 Canadian Civil Aircraft Register Retrieved 28 March 2017 Pober Pixie One of a kind scratch built airplane Sport Aviation January 2002 Taylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions p 347 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1977 78 London Jane s Yearbooks p 538 AirVenture Museum website on the type EAA specification sheet for Pober PixieExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pober Pixie Manufacturer s website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pober Pixie amp oldid 1220983351, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
