The SZD-10 Czapla (''
Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny
Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny (SZD), ''Glider Experimental Works'' was a glider aircraft, glider design and research centre of the Polish aerospace industry after World War II, located in Bielsko-Biała. Through its history it underwent many o ...
'' - Glider Experimental Works) was a two-seat training
glider aircraft
A glider is a fixed-wing aircraft that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its lifting surfaces, and whose gliding flight, free flight does not depend on an engine. Most gliders do not have an engine, although mot ...
that was designed and built in
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...
from 1953.
Development
The Czapla (''Heron'') was a
tandem
Tandem, or in tandem, is an arrangement in which two or more animals, machines, or people are lined up one behind another, all facing in the same direction. ''Tandem'' can also be used more generally to refer to any group of persons or objects w ...
two-seat training glider, with a strut- supported, forward-swept, high-set wing and a welded steel tube fuselage with fabric covering. Design of the Czapla commenced in 1952 to the order of the ''Soldier's Friends' League'' paramilitary organization, to enable aeroclubs to train glider pilots in a two-seat trainee/instructor system. Main designers were
Roman Zatwarnicki,
Irena Kaniewska and
Marian Gracz. The Czapla was designed to be launched by bungee, winch or aero-tow, and the prototype first flew on 23 November 1953, demonstrating the need for several improvements, which were introduced in the second prototype (flown on 26 March 1954) and the production model SZD-10bis Czapla.
[ Babiejczuk, Janusz and Grzegorzewski, Jerzy. ''Polski przemysł lotniczy 1945-1973'' (Polish aerospace industry 1945-197). Warsaw: Wydawnictwo MON, 1974, p. 122] Production was carried out from 1955 at ZSLS (''ZSLS'' - sport aviation equipment workshops) in
Krosno
Krosno (in full ''The Royal Free City of Krosno'', ) is a historical town and Krosno County, county in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in southeastern Poland. The estimated population of the town is 47,140 inhabitants as of 2014.
The functional ...
,
Wrocław
Wrocław is a city in southwestern Poland, and the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. It is the largest city and historical capital of the region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the Oder River in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Eu ...
,
Bielsko
Bielsko (, ) was until 1950 an independent town situated in Cieszyn Silesia, Poland. In 1951 it was joined with Biała Krakowska to form the new town of Bielsko-Biała. Bielsko constitutes the western part of that town.
Bielsko was founded by ...
and
Poznań
Poznań ( ) is a city on the Warta, River Warta in west Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business center and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint John's ...
and the Military Repair workshop at
Łódź
Łódź is a city in central Poland and a former industrial centre. It is the capital of Łódź Voivodeship, and is located south-west of Warsaw. Łódź has a population of 655,279, making it the country's List of cities and towns in Polan ...
,
[ with Czapla being used for everyday club flying up to the early 1980s,][ Krzyżan, Marian, ''Samoloty w muzeach polskich'' (Aircraft in the Polish museums), Warsaw: Wydawnictwa Komunikacji i Łączności, 1983, , p. 138] and exported to Finland
Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...
and Turkey
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
.[
]
Variants
*SZD-10-2 Czapla – two prototypes
*SZD-10bis Czapla – 19 production aircraft
*SZD-10bis A Czapla – 136 production aircraft, first flew in June 1958
Specifications (SZD-10bis Czapla)
See also
References
*Taylor, J. H. (ed) (1989) ''Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation''. Studio Editions: London. p. 29
External links
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mOxE3ZbVbE
*http://www.airplane-pictures.net/type.php?p=2121
*http://muzeumlotnictwa.pl/zbiory_sz.php?ido=90&w=a
*http://www.piotrp.de/SZYBOWCE/pszd10.htm
*http://www.aeroklub.wroc.pl/node/114
*http://www.aeroklub.wroc.pl/node/115
*http://www.aeroklub.wroc.pl/node/38
*http://www.aeroklub.wroc.pl/node/126
*http://www.aeroklub.wroc.pl/node/124
{{Polish gliders
1950s Polish sailplanes
SZD10
SZD aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1953