Drzewiecki JD-2

The JD-2 was a Polish sports plane of 1926. It was the first sports plane designed in Poland, that was built in a small series.

Design and development

The JD-2 was the first aircraft constructed by the Aviation Section of the Mechanic Students' Club of the Warsaw University of Technology (later a home of the RWD design team). The main designer was Jerzy Drzewiecki, hence a designation JD. The aircraft was designed in late 1925, around an available Anzani engine. It was the only plane of Drzewiecki's individual design and to carry JD designation, as he later worked as a member of the RWD team.

The prototype, with a workshop number SL-4, was built in 1926 and first flown on October 4, 1926 in Warsaw. During landing, a fuel pipe broke and the aircraft burned, injuring the military pilot Kazimierz Kalina. The pilot, however, expressed a good opinion on its handling, so the second modified aircraft was built (SL-6), and one more airframe for static trials (SL-5).

The second prototype SL-6 was flown on June 26, 1927. Its handling was however not too good, it was also 90 kg heavier, than estimated. It was given a registration P-PSLA, from 1929: SP-ACA.