diff --git a/panda/src/mathutil/plane_src.I b/panda/src/mathutil/plane_src.I
index 587b3183c6..c2b54c8ed7 100644
--- a/panda/src/mathutil/plane_src.I
+++ b/panda/src/mathutil/plane_src.I
@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 INLINE_MATHUTIL FLOATNAME(Plane)::
 FLOATNAME(Plane)(void) {
-  _a = 0.0f;
-  _b = 0.0f;
-  _c = 1.0f;
-  _d = 0.0f;
+  _v.v._0 = 0.0f;
+  _v.v._1 = 0.0f;
+  _v.v._2 = 1.0f;
+  _v.v._3 = 0.0f;
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -38,10 +38,7 @@ FLOATNAME(Plane)(void) {
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 INLINE_MATHUTIL FLOATNAME(Plane)::
 FLOATNAME(Plane)(const FLOATNAME(Plane) &copy) :
-  _a(copy._a),
-  _b(copy._b),
-  _c(copy._c),
-  _d(copy._d)
+  FLOATNAME(LVecBase4)(copy)
 {
 }
 
@@ -60,10 +57,10 @@ FLOATNAME(Plane)(const FLOATNAME(LPoint3) &a, const FLOATNAME(LPoint3) &b,
   FLOATNAME(LVector3) v = c - a;
   FLOATNAME(LVector3) p = normalize(cross(u, v));
 
-  _a = p[0];
-  _b = p[1];
-  _c = p[2];
-  _d = -dot(p, a);
+  _v.v._0 = p[0];
+  _v.v._1 = p[1];
+  _v.v._2 = p[2];
+  _v.v._3 = -::dot(p, a);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -77,10 +74,10 @@ FLOATNAME(Plane)(const FLOATNAME(LVector3) &normal,
                  const FLOATNAME(LPoint3) &point) {
   FLOATNAME(LVector3) p = normalize(normal);
 
-  _a = p[0];
-  _b = p[1];
-  _c = p[2];
-  _d = -dot(p, point);
+  _v.v._0 = p[0];
+  _v.v._1 = p[1];
+  _v.v._2 = p[2];
+  _v.v._3 = -::dot(p, point);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -91,27 +88,10 @@ FLOATNAME(Plane)(const FLOATNAME(LVector3) &normal,
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 INLINE_MATHUTIL FLOATNAME(Plane)::
 FLOATNAME(Plane)(FLOATTYPE a, FLOATTYPE b, FLOATTYPE c, FLOATTYPE d) :
-  _a(a),
-  _b(b),
-  _c(c),
-  _d(d)
+  FLOATNAME(LVecBase4)(a, b, c, d)
 {
 }
 
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: Plane::Operator =
-//       Access: Published
-//  Description:
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-INLINE_MATHUTIL FLOATNAME(Plane)& FLOATNAME(Plane)::
-operator = (const FLOATNAME(Plane)& p) {
-  _a = p._a;
-  _b = p._b;
-  _c = p._c;
-  _d = p._d;
-  return (*this);
-}
-
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: Plane::Operator * LMatrix3
 //       Access: Published
@@ -136,6 +116,16 @@ operator * (const FLOATNAME(LMatrix4) &mat) const {
   return FLOATNAME(Plane)(new_normal, new_point);
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: Plane::Unary -
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Returns the same plane facing the opposite direction.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE_MATHUTIL FLOATNAME(Plane) FLOATNAME(Plane)::
+operator - () const {
+  return FLOATNAME(Plane)(-_v.v._0, -_v.v._1, -_v.v._2, -_v.v._3);
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: Plane::get_normal
 //       Access: Published
@@ -143,7 +133,7 @@ operator * (const FLOATNAME(LMatrix4) &mat) const {
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 INLINE_MATHUTIL FLOATNAME(LVector3) FLOATNAME(Plane)::
 get_normal() const {
-  return FLOATNAME(LVector3)(_a, _b, _c);
+  return FLOATNAME(LVector3)(_v.v._0, _v.v._1, _v.v._2);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -158,7 +148,7 @@ get_normal() const {
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 INLINE_MATHUTIL FLOATTYPE FLOATNAME(Plane)::
 dist_to_plane(const FLOATNAME(LPoint3) &point) const {
-  return (_a * point[0] + _b * point[1] + _c * point[2] + _d);
+  return (_v.v._0 * point[0] + _v.v._1 * point[1] + _v.v._2 * point[2] + _v.v._3);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -204,7 +194,7 @@ INLINE_MATHUTIL bool FLOATNAME(Plane)::
 intersects_line(FLOATTYPE &t,
                 const FLOATNAME(LPoint3) &from,
                 const FLOATNAME(LVector3) &delta) const {
-  FLOATTYPE denom = dot(get_normal(), delta);
+  FLOATTYPE denom = ::dot(get_normal(), delta);
   if (IS_NEARLY_ZERO(denom)) {
     return false;
   }
@@ -213,86 +203,8 @@ intersects_line(FLOATTYPE &t,
   return true;
 }
 
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: Plane::get_data
-//       Access: Published
-//  Description: Returns the address of the first of the four data
-//               elements in the plane equation.  The remaining
-//               elements occupy the next positions consecutively in
-//               memory.
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-INLINE_MATHUTIL const FLOATTYPE *FLOATNAME(Plane)::
-get_data() const {
-  return &_a;
-}
-
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: Plane::get_num_components
-//       Access: Published
-//  Description: Returns the number of elements in the plane equation,
-//               four.
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-INLINE_MATHUTIL int FLOATNAME(Plane)::
-get_num_components() const {
-  return 4;
-}
-
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: Plane::output
-//       Access: Published
-//  Description:
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-INLINE_MATHUTIL void FLOATNAME(Plane)::
-output(ostream &out) const {
-  out << "Plane(" << _a << " " << _b << " " << _c << " " << _d << ")";
-}
-
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: Plane::write
-//       Access: Published
-//  Description:
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-INLINE_MATHUTIL void FLOATNAME(Plane)::
-write(ostream &out, int indent_level) const {
-  indent(out, indent_level) << *this << "\n";
-}
-
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: Plane::write_datagram
-//       Access: Public
-//  Description:
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-INLINE_MATHUTIL void FLOATNAME(Plane)::
-write_datagram(Datagram &dest) const {
-#if FLOATTOKEN == 'f'
-  dest.add_float32(_a);
-  dest.add_float32(_b);
-  dest.add_float32(_c);
-  dest.add_float32(_d);
-#else
-  dest.add_float64(_a);
-  dest.add_float64(_b);
-  dest.add_float64(_c);
-  dest.add_float64(_d);
-#endif
-}
-
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: Plane::read_datagram
-//       Access: Public
-//  Description:
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-INLINE_MATHUTIL void FLOATNAME(Plane)::
-read_datagram(DatagramIterator &source) {
-#if FLOATTOKEN == 'f'
-  _a = source.get_float32();
-  _b = source.get_float32();
-  _c = source.get_float32();
-  _d = source.get_float32();
-#else
-  _a = source.get_float64();
-  _b = source.get_float64();
-  _c = source.get_float64();
-  _d = source.get_float64();
-#endif
+INLINE_MATHUTIL ostream &
+operator << (ostream &out, const FLOATNAME(Plane) &p) {
+  p.output(out);
+  return out;
 }
diff --git a/panda/src/mathutil/plane_src.cxx b/panda/src/mathutil/plane_src.cxx
index 8fe770e6e5..e9237fd862 100644
--- a/panda/src/mathutil/plane_src.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/mathutil/plane_src.cxx
@@ -26,10 +26,15 @@
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 FLOATNAME(LMatrix4) FLOATNAME(Plane)::
 get_reflection_mat(void) const {
-  FLOATTYPE aa = _a * _a; FLOATTYPE ab = _a * _b; FLOATTYPE ac = _a * _c;
-  FLOATTYPE ad = _a * _d;
-  FLOATTYPE bb = _b * _b; FLOATTYPE bc = _b * _c; FLOATTYPE bd = _b * _d;
-  FLOATTYPE cc = _c * _c; FLOATTYPE cd = _c * _d;
+  FLOATTYPE aa = _v.v._0 * _v.v._0; 
+  FLOATTYPE ab = _v.v._0 * _v.v._1;
+  FLOATTYPE ac = _v.v._0 * _v.v._2;
+  FLOATTYPE ad = _v.v._0 * _v.v._3;
+  FLOATTYPE bb = _v.v._1 * _v.v._1;
+  FLOATTYPE bc = _v.v._1 * _v.v._2;
+  FLOATTYPE bd = _v.v._1 * _v.v._3;
+  FLOATTYPE cc = _v.v._2 * _v.v._2;
+  FLOATTYPE cd = _v.v._2 * _v.v._3;
 
   return FLOATNAME(LMatrix4)(  1-2*aa,  -2*ab,  -2*ac,     0,
                               -2*ab, 1-2*bb,  -2*bc,     0,
@@ -47,15 +52,15 @@ get_reflection_mat(void) const {
 FLOATNAME(LPoint3) FLOATNAME(Plane)::
 get_point() const {
   // Choose the denominator based on the largest axis in the normal.
-  if (cabs(_a) >= cabs(_b) && cabs(_a) >= cabs(_c)) {
-    nassertr(_a != 0.0f, FLOATNAME(LPoint3)(0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f));
-    return FLOATNAME(LPoint3)(-_d / _a, 0.0f, 0.0f);
-  } else if (cabs(_b) >= cabs(_c)) {
-    nassertr(_b != 0.0f, FLOATNAME(LPoint3)(0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f));
-    return FLOATNAME(LPoint3)(0.0f, -_d / _b, 0.0f);
+  if (cabs(_v.v._0) >= cabs(_v.v._1) && cabs(_v.v._0) >= cabs(_v.v._2)) {
+    nassertr(_v.v._0 != 0.0f, FLOATNAME(LPoint3)(0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f));
+    return FLOATNAME(LPoint3)(-_v.v._3 / _v.v._0, 0.0f, 0.0f);
+  } else if (cabs(_v.v._1) >= cabs(_v.v._2)) {
+    nassertr(_v.v._1 != 0.0f, FLOATNAME(LPoint3)(0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f));
+    return FLOATNAME(LPoint3)(0.0f, -_v.v._3 / _v.v._1, 0.0f);
   } else {
-    nassertr(_c != 0.0f, FLOATNAME(LPoint3)(0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f));
-    return FLOATNAME(LPoint3)(0.0f, 0.0f, -_d / _c);
+    nassertr(_v.v._2 != 0.0f, FLOATNAME(LPoint3)(0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f));
+    return FLOATNAME(LPoint3)(0.0f, 0.0f, -_v.v._3 / _v.v._2);
   }
 }
 
@@ -86,14 +91,36 @@ intersects_plane(FLOATNAME(LPoint3) &from,
     return false;
   }
 
-  FLOATTYPE n1n1 = dot(n1, n1);
-  FLOATTYPE n2n2 = dot(n2, n2);
-  FLOATTYPE n1n2 = dot(n1, n2);
+  FLOATTYPE n1n1 = ::dot(n1, n1);
+  FLOATTYPE n2n2 = ::dot(n2, n2);
+  FLOATTYPE n1n2 = ::dot(n1, n2);
  
   FLOATTYPE determinant_inv = 1.0f / (n1n1 * n2n2 - n1n2 * n1n2);
-  FLOATTYPE c1 = (other._d * n1n2 - _d * n2n2) * determinant_inv;
-  FLOATTYPE c2 = (_d * n1n2 - other._d * n1n1) * determinant_inv;
+  FLOATTYPE c1 = (other._v.v._3 * n1n2 - _v.v._3 * n2n2) * determinant_inv;
+  FLOATTYPE c2 = (_v.v._3 * n1n2 - other._v.v._3 * n1n1) * determinant_inv;
   from = n1 * c1 + n2 * c2;
 
   return true;
 }
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: Plane::output
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description:
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+void FLOATNAME(Plane)::
+output(ostream &out) const {
+  out << "Plane(";
+  FLOATNAME(LVecBase4)::output(out);
+  out << ")";
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: Plane::write
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description:
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+void FLOATNAME(Plane)::
+write(ostream &out, int indent_level) const {
+  indent(out, indent_level) << *this << "\n";
+}
diff --git a/panda/src/mathutil/plane_src.h b/panda/src/mathutil/plane_src.h
index fbacf3ccd5..771f666c7f 100644
--- a/panda/src/mathutil/plane_src.h
+++ b/panda/src/mathutil/plane_src.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 // Description : An abstract mathematical description of a plane.  A
 //               plane is defined by the equation Ax + By + Cz + D = 0.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-class EXPCL_PANDA FLOATNAME(Plane) {
+class EXPCL_PANDA FLOATNAME(Plane) : public FLOATNAME(LVecBase4) {
 PUBLISHED:
   INLINE_MATHUTIL FLOATNAME(Plane)(void);
   INLINE_MATHUTIL FLOATNAME(Plane)(const FLOATNAME(Plane) &copy);
@@ -33,10 +33,9 @@ PUBLISHED:
   INLINE_MATHUTIL FLOATNAME(Plane)(FLOATTYPE a, FLOATTYPE b,
                                    FLOATTYPE c, FLOATTYPE d);
 
-  INLINE_MATHUTIL FLOATNAME(Plane)& operator = (const FLOATNAME(Plane)& copy);
-
   INLINE_MATHUTIL FLOATNAME(Plane) operator * (const FLOATNAME(LMatrix3) &mat) const;
   INLINE_MATHUTIL FLOATNAME(Plane) operator * (const FLOATNAME(LMatrix4) &mat) const;
+  INLINE_MATHUTIL FLOATNAME(Plane) operator - () const;
 
   FLOATNAME(LMatrix4) get_reflection_mat(void) const;
 
@@ -55,23 +54,11 @@ PUBLISHED:
                         FLOATNAME(LVector3) &delta,
                         const FLOATNAME(Plane) &other) const;
 
-  INLINE_MATHUTIL const FLOATTYPE *get_data() const;
-  INLINE_MATHUTIL int get_num_components() const;
-
-  INLINE_MATHUTIL void output(ostream &out) const;
-  INLINE_MATHUTIL void write(ostream &out, int indent_level = 0) const;
-
-public:
-  INLINE_MATHUTIL void write_datagram(Datagram &dest) const;
-  INLINE_MATHUTIL void read_datagram(DatagramIterator &source);
-
-public:
-  FLOATTYPE _a, _b, _c, _d;
+  void output(ostream &out) const;
+  void write(ostream &out, int indent_level = 0) const;
 };
 
-INLINE_MATHUTIL ostream &operator << (ostream &out, const FLOATNAME(Plane) &p) {
-  p.output(out);
-  return out;
-}
+INLINE_MATHUTIL ostream &
+operator << (ostream &out, const FLOATNAME(Plane) &p);
 
 #include "plane_src.I"