The Platzer Kiebitz (English: Lapwing) is a German amateur-built aircraft designed by Michael Platzer and made available in the form of plans for amateur construction.^[1][2]

The Kiebitz features a strut-braced biplane configuration, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit with a small windshield, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.^[1][2]

The aircraft fuselage is made from welded steel tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric. Its 7.6 m (24.9 ft) span wing has an area of 18.3 m² (197 sq ft) and uses interplane cable bracing. Engines from 50 to 100 hp (37 to 75 kW) can be used. The prototype used a 50 hp (37 kW) Nissan 12P automotive engine from a Nissan Micra, but Rotax, Volkswagen air-cooled engines and Sauer powerplants have also been employed.^[1][2]

Even though the aircraft can only be constructed from plans, the Kiebitz has proven popular with builders for the European Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight class.^[1][2]

Data from Bayerland Tacke^[1][2]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: one passenger
• Wingspan: 7.6 m (24 ft 11 in)
• Wing area: 18.3 m² (197 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 200 kg (441 lb)
• Gross weight: 330 kg (728 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 50 litres (11 imp gal; 13 US gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Nissan 12P four cylinder, liquid-cooled, four stroke automotive engine, 37 kW (50 hp)
• Propellers: three-bladed composite

Performance

• Maximum speed: 140 km/h (87 mph, 76 kn)
• Cruise speed: 125 km/h (78 mph, 67 kn)
• Stall speed: 45 km/h (28 mph, 24 kn)
• Rate of climb: 3 m/s (590 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 18.0 kg/m² (3.7 lb/sq ft)