Wassmer WA-51 Pacific

The Wassmer WA-51 Pacific is a French four-seat cabin monoplane designed and built by Société Wassmer. Different-powered variants include the Wassmer WA-52 Europa and the Wassmer WA-54 Atlantic. It was the world's first composite material-built aircraft.[1]

WA-51 Pacific
Wassmer WA-54 Atlantic
Role Four-seat cabin monoplane
National origin France
Manufacturer Société Wassmer
First flight 18 March 1966
Produced 1969–1977
Number built 154

Design and development

Having manufactured glass-fibre cowlings for Bébé, D112 and D120 Jodels, increasing number of glass-fibre parts for their Javelot, Bijave and Super-Javelot gliders, and then Super-IV aircraft, in 1966 Wassmer first flew the glass-fibre WA-50 prototype, a single-engined four-seat cabin monoplane with a retractable tricycle landing gear. Originally designed as a three-seater powered by a 115cv Potez engine, engine unavailability at the time resulted in a 150cv Lycoming O-320 being used instead and the aircraft becoming a 4-seater.[1] Using the same profile as the Super-IV but only 8.6m span, and compensated with large slotted flaps, the wings were formed from two moulded halves and contained two 70 litre fuel tanks.[1] The fuselage was also manufactured as two halves, and featured butterfly doors.

The design entered production as the WA-51 Pacific with a fixed tricycle landing gear. The low-wing cantilever monoplane was powered by a nose-mounted 150 hp (112 kW) Lycoming O-320-E2A piston engine. A variant, powered by a 160 hp (119 kW) Lycoming IO-320-B1A was called the WA-52 Europa. Further refinements produced the 180 hp (134 kW) Lycoming O-360-A1LD powered WA-54 Atlantic.

Variants
WA-50
Prototype with retractable landing gear, first flew 22 March 1966, one built, registration F-WNZZ.[2] Fuselage is color molded with integral leading edge fuel tanks.[3]
WA-51 Pacific
Production version first flown in 1969 with a 150hp (112kW) Lycoming O-320-E2A engine, 39 built.
WA-52 Europa
As WA-51 with a 160hp (119kW) Lycoming IO-320-B1A engine, 59 built.
WA-53
Proposed variant with a 125hp Lycoming engine, not built.
WA-54 Atlantic
WA-51 with refinements and a 180hp (134kW) Lycoming O-360-A1LD engine, 55 built.

Specifications (WA-54 Atlantic)
3-view line drawing of the Wassmer WA-54
3-view line drawing of the Wassmer WA-54

Data from Mondey.

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 (pilot)
  • Capacity: 3 (passengers)
  • Length: 7.50 m (24 ft 7.25 in)
  • Wingspan: 9.40 m (30 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 2.26 m (7 ft 5 in)
  • Wing area: 12.40 m2 (133.47 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 7.125
  • Empty weight: 620 kg (1,367 lb)
  • Gross weight: 1,130 kg (2,491 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-360-A1LD , 134 kW (180 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 280 km/h (174 mph, 151 kn) at sea level
  • Cruise speed: 260 km/h (162 mph, 141 kn) at 1,675 m (5,500 ft)
  • Range: 1,340 km (839 mi, 729 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,760 ft)

See also

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wassmer WA-51.
  1. Battarel 1966
  2. Corny. "WA50". historique.wassmer.free.fr. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  3. Fricker, John (October 1966). "Foreign Accent". Flying. Vol. 79, no. 4. p. 31.

Bibliography
  • Battarel, Michel (1966). Chez Wassmer, l'avion "tout plastique" devient une réalité. Air et Cosmos, 141 pp. 36–38
  • Mondey, David (1981). Encyclopedia of The World's Commercial and Private Aircraft. New York: Crescent Books. p. 245.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.
  • Simpson, R.W. Airlife's General Aviation. England: Airlife Publishing. p. 336. ISBN 1-85310-194-X.
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