PWS-10

The PWS-10 was a Polish fighter aircraft, constructed in the PWS (Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów - Podlasie Aircraft Factory). It was the first Polish-designed fighter to enter serial production.

Design and development

First work on a domestic fighter to replace ill-fated French SPAD 61s in the Polish Air Force was initiated by PWS in 1927. Main designers were Aleksander Grzędzielski and Augustyn Zdaniewski. In 1929 the first prototype was built and it first flew in March 1930. At the same time, the more modern fighter PZL P.1 was developed by the PZL. Despite the P.1 being a more capable fighter, the War Ministry decided that it needed further work, and a series of 80 PWS-10 was ordered as a temporary measure. In comparison with the advanced P.1, the PWS-10 was a more classic design, a high-wing parasol monoplane of mixed construction.

The series was built from 1931 to 1932, numbered from 5-1 to 5-80.

A variant of PWS-10 was a biplane PWS-15, being basically PWS-10 with another pair of wings. A single prototype was made in order to compare with a monoplane, on factory's own initiative. It first flew in spring of 1931. It offered better manoeuvrability and climb ratio with slightly lower maximum speed. PWS-15 was not produced and was soon broken up.

PWS-51

The PWS-51 was a Polish sports plane of 1930, a single-engine low-wing monoplane, constructed by the Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów (PWS), that remained a prototype.

Design and development

The plane was designed in 1929 by Stanisław Cywiński in Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów, on factory's initiative, specially to participate in the Challenge 1930 international touring aircraft contest (along with PWS-50, PWS-52 and PWS-8). The plane was built with a financial help of LOPP organization and it was first flown in spring of 1930 by Franciszek Rutkowski in Biała Podlaska. It's noteworthy, that it was only 10 kg heavier, and its maximum speed was 15 km/h higher, than estimated.

Operational history

The prototype, with markings SP-ADC and contest number O7, took part in the Challenge 1930 international contest in July 1930, flown by Józef Lewoniewski. He completed most of a rally over Europe, but had to withdraw after a forced landing near Vienna on July 28, due to an oil pipe damage.

Later the plane took part in some competitions in Poland, without much success, among others it took the 10th place in the 3rd Polish Light Aircraft Contest in 1930. In 1931 during repair, a radial engine Genet was replaced with a radial engine Walter Vega NZ (from PWS-8 aircraft) with a Townend ring. It was used then by an Aviation Club of the PWS factory. In June 1933 the plane was damaged. During repair it was fitted with a straight engine Cirrus III (from broken up PWS-50 aircraft).

PWS-3

The PWS-3 was a Polish sports aircraft, developed in 1927 by PWS (Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów - Podlasie Aircraft Factory), which remained a prototype.

Design and development

The PWS-3 was the first sports aircraft manufactured by the Polish aerospace industry (not counting earlier amateur designs). It was designed by Stanisław Cywiński in the PWS factory in 1927. Its interesting feature was a fuselage built upon a bottom boom, what made possible changing of upper fuselage part with cockpits, and developing single-seater, two-seater or other specialized variants.

The prototype of the PWS-3, designated PWS-3B, was flown on 20 May 1927 at Biała Podlaska. After trials, a rudder got improved. In 1928 the plane underwent a modification, receiving rounded wingtips instead of square ones, and smaller ailerons.

Operational history

The prototype PWS-3B was given a registration number P-PWSS, from 1930: SP-ACJ. It took part in the 1st Polish Light Aircraft Contest on 6–9 October 1927, taking the 2nd place (after JD-2 aircraft). Later it was bought by the LOPP paramilitary organization in Lublin and used for propaganda flights.