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SZD-9 Bocian

Specifications

• Span 18.10 m.
• Area 20.00 sq. m.
• Aspect ratio 16.38
• Airfoil NACA 43018A
• Empty weight 342 kg.
• Gross weight 540 kg.
• Wing loading 27.0 kg. / sq. m.  

Performance

• L/D max. 26 80 kph
• Min. sink 0.82 m/s 71 kph

Other

• Country of origin Polen
• Designer PZL, Bielsko-Biala
• No. of seats 2

PZL Bielsko SZD 22C Mucha Standard

Specifications

• Span 15.0 m./ 49.2 ft
• Area 12.73 sq. m. / 137 sq.ft.
• Aspect ratio 17.65
• Airfoil Go 549, M 12
• Empty weight 240 kg. / 530 lb.
• Payload 110 kg. / 240 lb.
• Gross weight 350 kg. / 770 lb.
• Wing loading 27.49 kg. / sq. m. / 6.2 lb. / sq. ft.
• Structure wood/ fabric wings and tail, wood fuselage 

Performance

• L/D max. 28 76 kph / 41 kt / 47 mph
• Min. sink 0.73 m/s / 2.4 fps / 1.42 kt
• 71 kph / 38 kt / 44 mph

Other

• Country of origin Poland
• Designer Nowakowski, Grywacz and Zatwarnicki
• No. of seats 1
• No. in the U.S. 1

The first Mucha was designed in 1948 under the auspices of the Polish Gliding Institute, formed in 1946 at Bielsko-Biala. The –22C Mucha Standard, which first flew in 1958, was developed for the 1958 World Championships held at Leszno, Poland where it took first place in the Standard Class. It has Frise ailerons which are both aerodynamically and mass balanced. Approach control is by top and bottom surface airbrakes. Rubber water ballast tanks are fitted in the wing leading edges. Produced in quantity thereafter, it was used in a subsequent Polish Nationals as the one design flown by all entrants.

PZL Bielsko SZD 24C Foka

Specifications

• Span 15.0 m./ 49.2 ft
• Area 12.2 sq. m. / 131.3 sq.ft.
• Aspect ratio 18.5
• Airfoil NACA 63(3)-618, 4415 mod.
• Empty weight 245 kg. / 540 lb.
• Payload 141 kg. / 311 lb.
• Gross weight 386 kg. / 851 lb.
• Wing loading 31.64 kg. / sq. m. / 6.48 lb. / sq. ft.
• Structure wood, ply/ plastic sandwich skins 

Performance

• L/D max. 34 87 kph / 47 kt / 54 mph
• Min. sink 0.67 m/s / 2.2 fps / 1.30 kt
• 76 kph / 41 kt / 47 mph

Other

• Country of origin Poland
• Designer Okarmus and Mynarski
• No. of seats 1
• No. built 330
• No. in the U.S. 5

The original Foka first flew in 1960 and gained third place in the Standard Class at the World Championships at Koln-Butzwerhof, Germany, in that year. The first major production variant, the SZD 24C Foka 4 appeared the following year. A Foka 4, flown by Jan Wroblewski, won the Open Class at the 1965 World Championships at South Cerney, England. The final variant, the SZD-32 Foka 5, which has a T-tail, won the 1968 OSTIC prize. ATC

PZL Bielsko SZD 30 Pirat

Specifications

• Span 15.0 m./ 49.2 ft
• Area 13.8 sq. m. / 148.6 sq.ft.
• Aspect ratio 16.3
• Airfoil Wortmann FX-61-168, root ;
• Empty weight 260 kg. / 573 lb.
• Payload 110 kg. / 243 lb.
• Gross weight 370 kg. / 816 lb.
• Wing loading 26.8 kg. / sq. m. / 5.49 lb. / sq. ft.
• Structure fiberglass nose, otherwise wood 

Performance

• L/D max. 33 82 kph / 44 kt / 51 mph
• Min. sink 0.70 m/s / 2.3 fps /1.36 kt
• 74 kph / 40 kt / 46 mph

Other

• Country of origin Poland
• Designer Jerzy Smielkiewicz
• No. of seats 1
• No. built over 700
• No. in the U.S. 1

The prototype Pirat first flew in 1966, a multi-purpose design intended to cover the spectrum from a basic single-place ship to a cloud flying and aerobatic sailplane. It has a three piece wing with upper and lower Schemp-Hirth type airbrakes and fixed main wheel.

PZL Bielsko SZD 36 Cobra

Specifications

• Span 15.0 m./ 49.2 ft
• Area 10.6 sq. m. / 124.9 sq.ft.
• Aspect ratio 19.4
• Airfoil Wortmann FX61-168
• Empty weight 257 kg. / 567 lb.
• Payload 128 kg. / 282 lb.
• Gross weight 385 kg / 849 lb
• Wing loading 33.2 kg. / sq. m. / 6.8 lb. / sq. ft.
• Structure wood and fiberglass sandwich construction 

Performance

• L/D max. 38 94 kph / 51 kt / 59 mph
• Min. sink 0.60 m/s / 1.97 fps / 1.17 kt
• 72 kph / 39 kt / 45 mph

Other

• Country of origin Poland
• Designer Okarmus and Mynarski
• No. of seats 1
• No. built approx. 800
• No. in the U.S. 2

The Cobra 15 is a Standard Class design, which first flew in 1969. Franciszek Kepka flew one to second place at the 1970 World Championships at Marfa Texas. It incorporates the handling characteristics of the Foka 4 with a Wortmann profile and higher aspect ratio wing; 45 degree to 45 degree roll rate is less than three seconds. The ailerons and free-flying horizontal tail are mass balanced. It has a retractable gear which stows the wheel horizontally. The Cobra 17 is a 17 m. Open Class development which carries water ballast. Specifications are for the Cobra 15.

PZL Bielsko SZD 38A and SZD 42A Jantar

Specifications

• Span 20.5 m./ 67.2 ft
• Area 14.27 sq. m. / 153.6 sq.ft.
• Aspect ratio 29.5
• Airfoil Wortmann FX 67-K-150 root
• Empty weight 362 kg. / 798 lb.
• Payload 287 kg. / 632 lb.
• Water ballast 191 kg / 420 lb
• Gross weight 649 kg. / 1,430 lb.
• Wing loading 45.6 kg. / sq. m. / 9.28 lb. / sq. ft.
• Structure fiberglass laminate and foam sandwich, with plywood bulkheads and welded steel tube center section.

Performance

• L/D max. 48 90 kph / 49 kt / 56 mph
• Min. sink 0.46 m/s / 1.5 fps / 0.89 kt
• 64 kph / 35 kt / 40 mph

Other

• Country of origin Poland
• Designer Adam Kurbiel
• No. of seats 1
• No. built more than 60

First appearing at the 1972 Worls Championships at Vrsac, Yugoslavia, the T-tailed 19 m. Jantar 1 (SZD 38A) was followed by the 20.5 m. Jantar 2 and 2B versions (SZD 42A), which reverted to a conventional tail, raised the wing to the shoulder position and had provision for increased water ballast. All models have airbrakes on upper and lower wing surfaces and an unusual upper wing skin consisting of one unbroken sheet all the way to the flap trailing edge, the flaps moving from +8 to –8 degree by bending the skin. Apart from some plywood bulkheads and a welded steel tube fuselage center section carry through, the ship is all fiberglass. Specifications are for the –2B

PZL Bielsko SZD 41 and SZD 48 Jantar Standard

Specifications – SZD 48-3 Standard 3

• Span 15.0 m./ 49.2 ft
• Area 10.66 sq. m. / 113.4 sq.ft.
• Aspect ratio 21.1
• Airfoil PZL NN-8
• Empty weight 265 kg. / 583 lb.
• Payload 266 kg. / 586 lb.
• Water ballast 150 kg / 330 lb
• Gross weight 540 kg. / 1,190 lb.
• Wing loading 50,66 kg. / sq. m. / 10,49 lb. / sq. ft.
• Structure fiberglass and foam sandwich 

Performance

• L/D max. 40 111 kph / 60 kt / 69 mph
• Min. sink 0.77 m/s / 2.53 fps / 1.50 kt
• 97 kph / 52 kt / 60 mph

Other

• Country of origin Poland
• Designer Adam Kurbiel
• No. of seats 1
• No. built about 700
• No. in the U.S. about 30

The Standard Class companion of the Open Class –42 Jantar, the SZD 41 used a modified –42 fuselage fitted with an unflapped 15 m. wing. In 1978 an improved SZD 48-2 Standard 2 was introduced, with a shorter aft fuselage and tail surfaces of reduved area. The wing was raised from the mid-wing to shoulder wing position and swept slightly forward to compensate for reduced fuselage length. Water ballast was increased. The 48-3 Standard 3 superseded the –2 first fluning in 1983. All Jantar Standards have T-tails. Specifications are for the 48-3Standard3.

PZL Bielsko SZD 45 Ogar

Specifications

• Span 17.53 m./ 57.5 ft
• Area 19.1 sq. m. / 205.6 sq.ft.
• Aspect ratio 16.25
• Airfoil Wortmann FX 61-168/ FX 60-1261
• Empty weight 470 kg. / 1,036 lb.
• Payload 230 kg. / 507 lb.
• Gross weight 700 kg. / 1,543 lb.
• Wing loading 36.6 kg. / sq. m. / 7.49 lb. / sq. ft.
• Engine 51 kW/ 68 bhp Limbach SL 1700 EC/ 56 kW/ 75 bhp Revmaster 2100D
• Structure fiberglass pod with aluminum tail boom; wood wings with fiberglass laminate surface. 

Performance

• L/D max. 27 97 kph / 52 kt / 60 mph
• Min. sink 0.96 m/s / 3.15 fps / 1.87 kt

Other

• Country of origin Poland
• Designer Tadeusz Labuc
• No. of seats 2
• No. built about 60
• No. in the U.S. 2

The self-launching Ogar, which first flew in 1973, features sailplane rigging, soaring capability and staggered side-by-side two-place seating. It has a Hoffmann two blade pusher propeller. The landing gear is semi-retractable, and approach control is by top and bottom surface airbrakes. The U.S. import is powered with the dual ignition, turbocharged, Revmaster engine.

PZL Bielsko 50-3 Puchacz

Specifications

• Span 16.67 m./ 54.68 ft
• Area 18.10 sq. m. / 195.5 sq.ft.
• Aspect ratio 15.3
• Airfoil Wortmann
• Empty weight 360 kg. / 794 lb.
• Payload 220 kg. / 485 lb.
• Gross weight 570 kg. / 1,257 lb.
• Wing loading 31.49 kg. / sq. m. / 6.43 lb. / sq. ft.
• Structure GFRP

   

Performance

• L/D max. 32 89 kph / 48 kt / 55 mph
• Min. sink 0.70 m/s / 2.4 fps / 1.42 kt
• 80 kph / 43 kt / 49 mph

Other

• Country of origin Poland
• Designer Adam Meus
• No. of seats 2
• No. built over 300
• No. in the U.S. 3

The SZD 50-1 first flew in 1976. The improved 50-3 is the major production model with larger horizontal tailplane situated part of the way up the fin and enlarged rudder. It has a fixed main wheel, top and bottom surface Schempp-Hirth type airbrakes, and is stressed for erect and inverted aerobatic maneuvers. It has been used widely throughout the soaring world both as an initial and intermediate training sailplane, and as an aerobatic instructional platform and entry level aerobatic contest ship. ATC

PZL Bielsko SZD 51-1 Junior

Specifications

• Span 15.0 m./ 49.2 ft
• Area 12.51 sq. m. / 134.7 sq.ft.
• Aspect ratio 18.0
• Airfoil Wortmann
• Empty weight 242 kg. / 533 lb.
• Payload 113 kg. / 250 lb.
• Gross weight 355 kg. / 783 lb.
• Wing loading 28.38 kg. / sq. m. / 5.81 lb. / sq. ft.
• Structure GFRP/ epoxy/ steel tube 

Performance

• L/D max. 35 80 kph / 43 kt / 50 mph
• Min. sink 0.60 m/s / 1.97 fps / 1.17 kt
• 72 kph / 39 kt / 45 mph

Other

• Country of origin Poland
• Designer Stanislaw Zientek
• No. of seats 1
• No. built about 300
• No. in the U.S. 5

This simple, rugged early solo/ club glider first flew in 1980. It has a fixed main wheel and top and bottom surface Schempp-Hirth type airbrakes. A simplified model 51-2 was a runner up in the IGC World Class design contest.

PZL Bbielsko SZD-55-1

Specifications

• Span 15.0 m./ 49.2 ft
• Area 9.60 sq. m. / 103.33 sq.ft.
• Aspect ratio 23.44
• Airfoil NN 27
• Empty weight 210 kg. / 463 lb.
• Payload 290 kg. / 639 lb.
• Water ballast 200 kg / 441 lb
• Gross weight 500 kg. / 1,102 lb.
• Wing loading 52,0 kg. / sq. m. / 10.65 lb. / sq. ft.
• Structure GFRP/ expoxy/ composite 

Performance

• L/D max. 43 85 kph / 46 kt / 53 mph
• Min. sink 0.63 m/s / 1.6 fps / 1.17 kt
• 70 kph / 38 kt / 44 mph

Other

• Country of origin Poland
• Designer Tadeusz Labuc
• No. of seats 1
• No. in the U.S. 9

This Standard Class sailplane first flew in 1988. Wing planform is of the Discus type. It has upper surface double segment Schempp-Hirth type airbrakes for approach control and a 9 kg./ 20 lb. Fin ballast tank in addition to wing tank. An SZD-55 placed second in the Standard Class at the 1991 World Championships at Uvalde TX, and another placed third at the 1993 Worlds at Borlange, Sweden.

PZL Bielsko SZD-59 Acro

Specifications

• Span 13.2 m./ 43.9 ft (15.0 m./ 49.2 ft.)
• Area 9.8 sq. m. / 105.49 sq.ft.
• (10.66 sq. m./ 114.7 sq. ft.)
• Aspect ratio 17.79 (21.11)
• Airfoil NN 8
• Empty weight 265 kg. / 584 lb.
• Payload 115 kg. / 235 lb.(270 kg. /595 lb.)
• Water ballast nil (150 kg / 331 lb)
• Gross weight 380 kg. / 838 lb.(540 kg./ 1,191)
• Wing loading 38.82 kg. / sq. m. / 7.96 lb. / sq. ft.
• (50.66 kg. /sq. m./ 10.38 lb./ sq. ft.)
• Structure CFRP/ epoxy 

Performance

• L/D max. 36 115 kph / 62 kt / 71 mph
• (40 111 kph/ 60 kt/ 69 mph)
• Min. sink 0.77 m/s / 2.53 fps / 1.50 kt
• 80 kph / 43 kt / 50 mph
• (0.77 m/s / 2.53 fps /1.50 kt)
• (97 kph/ 52 kt/ 60 mph)

Other

• Country of origin Poland
• No. of seats 1
• No. in the U.S. 7

The SZD-59 was designed both as a contest aerobatic sailplane (+7/ -5 g) and, with wingtip extensions, as a 15 m. Standard Class sailplane. It has top and bottom surface Schempp-Hirth type airbrakes, retractable main wheel and provision for water ballast. The 15 m. tip extensions come with optional winglets. Control connections are fully automatic. Specifications in parenthesis are for the 15 m. configuration without winglets.

PZL Krosno KR 03 A Puchatek

Specifications

• Span 16.4 m./ 53.8 ft
• Area 19.44 sq. m. / 209.25 sq.ft.
• Aspect ratio 13.9
• Airfoil Wortmann FX-S-01-158
• Empty weight 350 kg. / 771 lb.
• Payload 190 kg. / 419 lb.
• Gross weight 540 kg. / 1,190 lb.
• Wing loading 27.78 kg. / sq. m. / 5.69 lb. / sq. ft.
• Structure Metal and fabric 

Performance

• L/D max. 27 88 kph / 48 kt / 55 mph
• Min. sink 0.78 m/s / 2.38 fps / 1.41 kt
• 81 kph / 44 kt / 51 mph

Other

• Country of origin Poland
• Designer Jerzy Krawczyk and Eugeniusz Pelczar
• No. of seats 2
• No. in the U.S. 14

The tandem two place metal framed sailplane was designed as a basic training glider and first flew in 1985. It has an oleo pneumatic sprung fixed main wheel, a tail wheel and a rubber sprung nose skid. Approach control is by top and bottom surface Schempp-Hirth type airbrakes. ATC

PZL Swidnik PW-5 Smyk

Specifications

• Span 13.44 m./ 44.0 ft
• Area 10.16 sq. m. / 109.4 sq.ft.
• Aspect ratio 17.8
• Airfoil Polytechnika Warszawska
• Empty weight 190 kg. / 418 lb.
• Payload 110 kg. / 242 lb.
• Gross weight 300 kg. / 660 lb.
• Wing loading 29.5 kg. / sq. m. / 6.03 lb. / sq. ft.
• Structure GFRP; fabric covered rudder 

Performance

• L/D max. 32 88 kph / 48 kt / 55 mph
• Min. sink 0.67 m/s / 2.2 fps / 1.30 kt
• 72 kph / 39 kt / 45 mph

Other

• Country of origin Poland
• Designer Polytechnika Warszawska
• No. of seats 1
• No. in the U.S. about 10

The PW-5 was the winning entry in the IGC/ OSTIV World Class design contest. The design is available for license contruction both by manufacturers and homebuilders. PZL Swidnik is the first manufacturing licensee to reach production. It is flapless, has upper surface Schempp-Hirth airbrakes for approach control, and a fixed main wheel. PZL has announced that PW-5 production will be transferred to PZL Bielsko by the end of 1997

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