title: Perl PG-130 Penetrator
text: # Perl PG-130 Penetrator
  
  The Perl PG-130 Penetrator is an American mid-wing, single-seat glider that was designed and constructed by Harry Perl.
  
  ## Design and development
  
  The PG-130 was completed in 1953. The aircraft has a wooden structure, with the wings and tail covered in doped aircraft fabric covering. The 48 ft (14.6 m) span wing employs a Göttingen Gö 549 airfoil and features dive brakes. The wing has a foam-filled leading edge. The tail is an all-flying design. The aircraft originally took off from a jettisonable take-off dolly and landed on a fixed skid, but was later modified with a fixed monowheel.
  
  The sole example of the PG-130 was registered with the US Federal Aviation Administration as an Experimental - Amateur-built.
  
  ## Operational history
  
  Soaring Magazine reported in 1983 that Perl still owned the aircraft and was flying it at that time. The PG-130 was removed from the FAA register prior to 1989 and now belongs to the National Soaring Museum, where it was listed as "in storage" in June 2011.
  
  ## Aircraft on display
  
  * National Soaring Museum - in storage
  
  ## Specifications (PG-130)
  
  Data from Sailplane Directory, Soaring and The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage
  
  General characteristics
  
  * Crew: one
  * Wingspan: 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m)
  * Wing area: 130 sq ft (12 $m^2)$
  * Aspect ratio: 17.75:1
  * Airfoil: Göttingen Gö 549
  * Empty weight: 480 lb (218 kg)
  * Gross weight: 680 lb (308 kg)
  
  Performance
  
  * Maximum glide ratio: 33 at 52 mph (84 km/h)
  * Rate of sink: 126 ft/min (0.64 m/s) at 44 mph (71 km/h)
  * Wing loading: 5.23 lb/sq ft (25.5 $kg/m^2)$
  