Max Plan PF.204 Busard

The Max Plan PF.204 Busard was a French-built light sporting monoplane of the early 1950s. Following some modifications it was redesignated as PF.214; a planned derivative, the PF.215, was never made. The plane led to the subsequent construction of the Lefebvre Busard, a single-seat racing aircraft built marketed for homebuilding.

Max Plan PF.204 Busard
The sole PF.204 Busard stored at Mitry-Mory airfield near Paris in May 1957
Role	light sporting monoplane
National origin	France
Manufacturer	Max Plan
Designer	Max Plan
First flight	5 June 1952
Introduction	1952
Retired	by 1963
Primary user	private pilot owner
Number built	1

Development

The PF.204 Busard was designed and built by Monsieur Max Plan for personal use as a racing and sporting monoplane. The PF.204 was of all-wood construction with plywood skin. The aircraft was fitted with a fixed cantilever undercarriage enclosed by light alloy fairings.^[1]

Operational history

Only one example of the Busard was completed in 1952. By 1956 it had received several modifications, the most noticeable being a revised engine cowling and enlarged cockpit; at this point it was redesignated the PF. 214.^[2] At that time there were plans to replace the Minié with a 90 hp (67 kW) Continental C90 4-cylinder horizontally opposed engine, producing the PF.215.

After some years of active flying, it was placed in storage at Mitry-Mory airfield on the northeast outskirts of Paris by May 1957. It no longer appeared on the French civil aircraft register by 1964.^[3] By 2006 the aircraft was in storage at the Musée Regional de l'Air,^[4] Angers - Loire Airport, France.^[5]

Variants

Max Plan PF.204 Busard

The original racer, designed and built by Max Plan, powered by a 75 hp (56 kW) Minié 4.DC.32 h4-cyl. horizontally opposed piston engine.

Max Plan PF.214 Busard

The sole MP.204 re-designated after modifications to the engine cowling and an enlarged cockpit.

Max Plan PF.215 Busard

A planned derivative to have been powered by a 90 hp (67 kW) Continental C90 4-cyl. horizontally opposed piston engine.

Specifications (PF.204)

Data from Green (1956)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 17 ft 7 in (5.35 m)
• Wingspan: 18 ft 1 in (5.5 m)
• Wing area: 65 sq ft (6.0 m²) ^[2]
• Empty weight: 419 lb (190 kg)
• Gross weight: 728 lb (330 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 794 lb (360 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Minié 4.D.32 4-cylinder horizontally opposed, 75 hp (56 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 130 mph (210 km/h, 110 kn)
• Cruise speed: 99 mph (160 km/h, 86 kn)
• Endurance: 2 hours 30 minutes