Lanier Paraplane Commuter 110
Lanier · United States · first flew 1958 · light aircraft
The Lanier Paraplane Commuter 110, also called the 110 Paraplane Commuter PL-8, was a 1958 STOL aircraft and one of the last designs stemming from Edward H. Lanier's 1930s patents.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.53 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Cantilever mid wing with strongly cranked inner sections, tapered with elliptical tips
- Very long wing root fairings
- Controllable air entrance slots under the lower wing surface near the leading edge
A short-span aircraft with a large wing area and a 150 hp Lycoming O-320 flat-four in the nose, with a fixed conventional undercarriage and a conventional tail.
Specifications
- The Lanier Paraplane Commuter 110 has a length of 6.53 m (21 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 6.28 m (21 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 265 km/h (165 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Lanier's patents described vacuum cells in the upper fuselage and later the upper wing, intended to add lift and stability. Five Vacuaplanes were built in the 1930s, followed by three Paraplanes from about 1948, before the Commuter 110 first flew in 1958.
Variants
It was developed from the Lanier Paraplane II. Only one Commuter 110 was built.
Where you'll see it
Described as a STOL aircraft, it had respectable take-off and landing characteristics, but no records comparing performance with open and closed cells appear to have survived.
Related aircraft
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