PGE E-31 Esztergom
PGE · Hungary · first flew 1966 · glider
The E-31 Esztergom was the standard single-seat training glider used in Hungary from about 1967 into the 1980s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.41 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Straight-tapered cantilever shoulder wing with forward sweep on the trailing edge only
- Fixed rubber-sprung monowheel just ahead of the wing leading edge
- Long blown-plexiglass canopy with a side-hinged rear part
An all-metal glider named after the city of Esztergom where it was built, with a broad angular fin and a narrow rectangular tailplane.
Specifications
- The PGE E-31 Esztergom has a length of 7.41 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.98 m (49 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 180 km/h (112 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
In 1964 the Hungarian sport flying body sought a new single-seat trainer. The PGE team tested three wing designs on a Kópé-type fuselage, and the R-254, which used the original Mokany wing with DFS airbrakes, was selected for production and first flew on 21 March 1966.
Variants
The R-252, R-253 and R-254 were the three wing designs tested, and only the R-254 went into production as the E-31.
Where you'll see it
Fifty were produced after five pre-production aircraft. Its performance was below specification, but the Standard Class glider served as Hungary's next single-seat trainer.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.