RWD-4

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The RWD-4 was a Polish sports plane of 1930, constructed by the RWD team.

RWD-4

Type	Sports plane
Manufacturer	Warsaw University of Technology workshops
Designed by	RWD team
Maiden flight	1930
Introduced	1930
Retired	1936
Primary user	Polish civilian aviation
Produced	1930
Number built	9

1 Development
2 Description
3 Specifications
- 3.1 General characteristics
- 3.2 Performance
4 Related content

[edit] Development

The RWD-4 was constructed by the RWD team of Stanislaw Rogalski, Stanislaw Wigura and Jerzy Drzewiecki in Warsaw. It was based upon their earlier design RWD-2, but was enlarged and fitted with more powerful inline engine. It retained the same fish-shaped fuselage without a direct view towards forward from the pilot's seat, though the view improved due to thin fuselage profile before the pilot. The aircraft development was ordered by the Ministry of Communication especially for participation in Challenge 1930 international air competition. At the same time, the RWD developed similar liaison aircraft project, the RWD-3, which shared many features with the RWD-4.

The first three aircraft (registration SP-ADK, -ADL and -ADM) were completed and flown by the designer Jerzy Drzewiecki in spring of 1930. Then, they took part in the Challenge competition in July. Only Jerzy Bajan completed the race on SP-ADM on the 32nd place (for 35 classified and 60 starting crews), Franciszek Zwirko and Stanislaw Wigura crew withdrew due to engine failure and compulsory landing, while the third pilot got ill. In late 1930, further 6 aircraft were built for Polish aero clubs (registration SP-AEK, -AEL, AEY, -AEZ, -AFC, -AGP). They were later used in Polish local air competitions, with successes (for example, F. Zwirko won the 3rd Polish light aircraft contest in 1930, and other RWD-4s took the 2nd, 5th and 6th place). In 1931, in an international air meeting in Zagreb, J. Bajan won the 2nd place overall and the 1st place in aerobatics. RWD-4s were also used for training and glider towing. The first two were withdrawn in 1931, the last were scrapped in 1936, after quite short, but meritorious service in Polish sporting aviation.

[edit] Description

Wooden construction sports plane, conventional in layout, with high-wings, canvas and plywood covered. Crew of two, sitting in tandem, with dual controls. The crew cabs were open on the sides in upper part, they had individual doors on the right side. 4-cylinder air-cooled inline engine Cirrus Hermes 105 hp nominal power and 115 hp (86 kW) take-off power. Two-blade wooden propeller. Conventional landing gear, with a rear skid. Fuel tank 110 l in wing (fuel consumption - 21 l/ flight hour).