Pützer Elster
Pützer · Germany · first flew 1959 · light aircraft
The Pützer Elster was a German single-engined light aircraft built by Alfons Pützer KG, later Sportavia, in Bonn. It was used solely for recreational sport flying.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Plywood monocoque fuselage with two seats side by side |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High-wing monoplane with metal strut bracing
- Plywood monocoque fuselage with two seats side by side
- Tricycle landing gear with a steerable nosewheel
It used the wing of the Doppelraab, braced by metal struts, with a new plywood monocoque fuselage seating two side by side. The tricycle undercarriage had an unusual steerable nosewheel.
Specifications
- The Pützer Elster has a length of 7.1 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.22 m (43 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 168 km/h (104 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 pilot + 1 passenger.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was developed from the Motorraab motor glider, which had itself been developed from the Doppelraab glider. The prototype, fitted with a 52 hp Porsche engine, first flew on 10 January 1959.
Variants
The Elster B was the main production version with a 95 hp Continental C-90 engine. The Elster C had a 150 hp Lycoming O-320 and other modifications for use as a glider tug.
Where you'll see it
The Luftwaffe and Marineflieger operated 25 Elster Bs for sport flying groups. Production ceased in 1967 after 45 had been built, and some were still flying in private ownership in 2020.
Related aircraft
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