The PL-1 was a cantilever low-wing aircraft with a fixed tricycle landing gear. It had side-by-side seating for a crew of two and was powered by a 95hp (71kW) Continental C-90 piston engine. AIDC built a PL-1 for evaluation and conducted its first flight on 26 October 1968. AIDC then built 58 aircraft designated as the PL-1B (Cheinshou) for the Republic of China Air Force and fitted with a 150hp (112kW) Avco Lycoming O-320 engine.

The PL-1's rollout in October 1968.

The rollout and naming ceremony of the PL-1 first prototype.

The PL-1 fleet.

The PL-1s conducted its formation flight in February 1970.