Engineering:Alvarez Polliwagen

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Polliwagen
General information
TypeHomebuilt aircraft
Designer
Joseph Alvarez

The Alvarez Polliwagen is a 1970s homebuilt aircraft. The aircraft has a combination of many high performance features not typically found in a Volkswagen air-cooled engine-powered homebuilt.[1]

Design and development

The Polliwagen is a low wing, side-by-side configuration, T tailed, tricycle landing gear equipped aircraft with tip tanks. The aircraft was developed and tested with a one quarter scale radio controlled model.[2] Ailerons and flaps are full span. The fuselage is built from composites with foam cores. The aircraft's engine is configured with a constant speed propeller.[3] Entrance is through a swing up canopy.[4]

Specifications (Polliwagen)

Data from Plane and Pilot[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 1 passenger
  • Length: 18 ft (5.5 m)
  • Wingspan: 26 ft (7.9 m)
  • Airfoil: Wortmann FX-67-K-150
  • Empty weight: 950 lb (431 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,550 lb (703 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 26 U.S. gallons (98 L; 22 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × lyc.0-235 L2c horizontally opposed piston, 115 hp (86 kW)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed two-position constant-speed Airmaster Composite propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 220 kn (250 mph, 400 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 160 kn (180 mph, 290 km/h)
  • Stall speed: 33 kn (38 mph, 61 km/h)
  • Range: 1,000 nmi (1,200 mi, 1,900 km)
  • Service ceiling: 13,000 ft (4,000 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,400 ft/min (7.1 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 14 lb/sq ft (68 kg/m2)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. David E. Pullmann. Acceptance of Mediocrity. p. 197. 
  2. "none". Flight International. 22 August 1977. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Polliwagen". https://www.planeandpilotmag.com/article/polliwagen/. Retrieved 20 January 2025. 
  4. "none". Popular Mechanics: 77. January 1980.