The SZD-9 ''Bocian'' (Polish: "Stork") is a multi-purpose two-seat

sailplane A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the leisure activity and sport of gliding (also called soaring). This unpowered aircraft can use naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to gain altitude. Sailplan ...

that was designed and built in Poland at ''

Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny (SZD), ''Glider Experimental Works'' was a glider design and research centre of the Polish aerospace industry after World War II, located in Bielsko-Biała. Through its history it underwent many organizational and ...

'' (Glider Experimental Works) in

Bielsko-Biała Bielsko-Biała (; cs, Bílsko-Bělá, german: Bielitz-Biala, szl, Bjylsko-Bjoło) is a city in southern Poland, with a population of approximately 168,319 as of December 2021, making it the 22nd largest city in Poland, and an area of . It is a ...

, beginning in 1952. It was designed to be capable of fulfilling the needs of every area from training to competition flying.

History

Main designer was

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, with

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and

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. The prototype SZD-9 flew for the first time on 10 March 1952, piloted by Adam Zientek. After flight testing was completed, suggested changes were incorporated into the design and production began, as SZD-9bis Bocian-1A (or simply "Bocian A"). The first production unit flew for the first time on 13 March 1953, and 11 units were built. Apart from use in Poland, the type was exported to 27 countries, including Austria, Australia, Belgium, China, France, Greece, India, Norway, former

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and

West Germany West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 O ...

, Switzerland,

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, Turkey,

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, United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union. Polish pilots set many international records flying SZD-9s.

Variants

*SZD-9 Bocian – two prototypes *SZD-9bis Bocian-1A – the first variant, 11 built *SZD-9bis Bocian-1B – improved variant (e.g. bigger tailfin), 11 built *SZD-9bis Bocian-1C – improved variant of 1954 (

wing A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is exp ...

s swept at lesser angle, modified control surfaces and rear skid), 40 built *SZD-9bis Bocian-Z – modified competition variant for 1956 World Gliding Competition, 3 built (2 rebuilt of Bocian C) *SZD-9bis Bocian-1D – improved variant of 1958 (bigger wheel and minor modifications), 186 built *SZD-9bis Bocian-1E – modified trainer variant of 1967 (straight

wing tip A wing tip (or wingtip) is the part of the wing that is most distant from the fuselage of a fixed-wing aircraft. Because the wing tip shape influences the size and drag of the wingtip vortices, tip design has produced a diversity of shap ...

s, two-part

canopy Canopy may refer to: Plants * Canopy (biology), aboveground portion of plant community or crop (including forests) * Canopy (grape), aboveground portion of grapes Religion and ceremonies * Baldachin or canopy of state, typically placed over an ...

instead of three-part,

landing gear Landing gear is the undercarriage of an aircraft or spacecraft that is used for takeoff or landing. For aircraft it is generally needed for both. It was also formerly called ''alighting gear'' by some manufacturers, such as the Glenn L. Marti ...

with

shock absorber A shock absorber or damper is a mechanical or hydraulic device designed to absorb and damp shock impulses. It does this by converting the kinetic energy of the shock into another form of energy (typically heat) which is then dissipated. Mos ...

s), 366 built *SZD-33 Bocian 3 – intended to replace SZD-9's and SZD-10's but discontinued in favour of the SZD-9bis Bocian-1E.

Specifications (SZD-9bis)

History

Variants

Specifications (SZD-9bis)

See also

References

Further reading