Homebuilder Pioneer Was 82

It is with heavy hearts Aero-News learned of the passing of small aircraft design pioneer and longtime EAA member Ladislao Pazmany, who died August 21 at the age of 82.

Known affectionately as "Paz" to his EAA friends and business associates, his work and reputation as an aeronautical engineer stretched across continents and touched people in every level of aviation, from government officials to young amateur pilots.

Born in Hungary and raised in Argentina, Pazmany's lifelong dedicationto aviation began with his first model plane at age five. By age 15, he was flying gliders. His family moved to San Diego, CA in May 1956 when he went to work for Convair. A month later he attended his first EAA Chapter 14 meeting, and was involved in EAA activities throughout most of his life.

Pazmany was inducted into the EAA Homebuilders Hall Of Fame in 1997.

Pazmany, who also worked at McDonnell Douglas, was an engineer, designer, teacher and pilot. He devoted his spare time to his firstlove, personal aircraft. He designed the PL-1 -- which flew for the first time on March 23, 1962 -- through the PL-4 and PL-9, a 3/4 scale version of the German Fieseler Storch warbird that first flew in 1997 (below).

In the 1970s, Paz also he designed the "Cloudster" powered glider for aviation legend, T. Claude Ryan. Pazmany's books, "Light Airplane Design" and "Landing Gear Design For Light Aircraft" are considered staples for aircraft designers.

For several years, Pazmany conducted the Pazmany Efficiency Contest at EAA's annual convention and fly-in at Oshkosh, a real-world evaluationof homebuilt performance. Paz remained active in his last years of failing health despite therigors of Parkinson's disease.

Shortly before passing, he remarked -- ignoring his adversity -- "Life has many good things."

Indeed, it does... but Ladislao Pazmany has now gone west, where his designs and aircraft will fly higher than even he could have dreamed.

FMI: www.eaa.org