RWD-21
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| RWD-16bis / RWD-21 | |
|---|---|
 RWD-21 in the Polish Aviation Museum |
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| Type | Touring and sports plane |
| National origin | Poland |
| Manufacturer | DWL |
| Designed by | RWD bureau |
| Maiden flight | 1938 (RWD-16bis) |
| Introduced | 1938 |
| Retired | 1950 |
| Primary user | Poland |
| Produced | 1938-1939 |
| Number built | >9 |
| Developed from | RWD-16 |
The RWD-16bis and RWD-21 were Polish two-seat low-wing touring and sports planes of the late 1930s, constructed by the RWD bureau, sharing the same construction, main difference of the RWD-21 being a stronger engine.
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[edit] Development
The RWD-16bis was designed in 1938 by Andrzej Anczutin of the RWD bureau as a light and economical touring and sports plane, utilizing the experience from an unsuccessful earlier design RWD-16. In spite of the designation, the RWD-16bis design was new, only partly basing on the RWD-16 construction. On contrary, it appeared a successful design, with good handling and performance and ease of flying. It was a wooden low-wing monoplane, with two seats side-by-side in a closed cockpit.
The first prototype was built and first flown in June-July 1938 (registration SP-BNM) followed by the second prototype (SP-BPC). Both were powered by a Polish-designed 63 hp Avia 3 straight engine. In series, a 62 hp Walter Mikron II straight engine was expected. The LOPP paramilitary organization ordered 20 aircraft, the first were to be built by May 1939. Probably a few were completed by the outbreak of the World War II, but there are no evidences[1].
The RWD-21 was a development variant with a stronger 90 hp engine Cirrus Minor and some minor changes, mostly to a canopy. The prototype was flown in February 1939 (registration SP-BPE). The first series of 10 aircraft was ordered and at least six were completed and registered before the war outbreak (SP-BRE, BRF, BRG, BRH, BRM, KAR)[2]
[edit] Operational history
Both aircraft were found by the LOPP paramilitary organization as successful economical planes, suitable for the plan of subsiding a development of the private aviation in Poland. A series of RWD-16bis was ordered by the LOPP at a price of 17,800 złoty (including the engine 6,200 zł), in order to sell airframes to private owners for 9,500 zł (the price of a mid-class car), lending the engine. The price of the RWD-21 was 20,500 zł (including the engine 8,000 zł).
At the outbreak of World War II, one RWD-21 was owned by Wilno Aero Club (SP-BRF), three by the LOPP (SP-BRE, BRG, BRH), one by private owner (SP-KAR) and two remained in the factory (SP-BPE, BRM)[3]. After the German invasion on Poland, in September 1939, two RWD-21s (SP-BPE and BRM[3]) were evacuated from the factory to Romania (one of them by a glider pilot Bronisław Żurakowski, who had not flown a plane before). At least one of them (SP-BPE) was used in Romania with markings YR-VEN and returned to Poland after the war. It was next used until mid-1950s with new markings SP-AKG. It is currently restored and preserved in the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków.
One RWD-21 was evacuated to Latvia, its further fate is unknown.
[edit] Description
Wooden construction low-wing cantilever monoplane, conventional in layout, with a fixed landing gear and a closed cockpit. Fuselage semi-monocoque, plywood-covered, duralumin in front engine section. Single-part trapezoid wings with rounded tips, two-spar, plywood (in front) and canvas covered, fitted with split flaps. Conventional cantilever empennage, plywood (fins) and canvas (elevators and rudder) covered. Two seats side-by-side, with twin controls, under a canopy, with a fixed windshield. Behind a cockpit, a place for a baggage. Conventional fixed landing gear with a rear skid, the main gear in covers. 4-cylinder straight engine in front, driving a two-blade tractor wooden propeller Szomański of a fixed pitch, 1.75 m diameter (RWD-16bis). Fuel tank 73 l in mid-wing section, under the crew seats.
[edit] Specifications (RWD-16bis)
Data from Glass, A. (1977)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1, pilot
- Capacity: 1, passenger or co-pilot
- Length: 7.9 m ()
- Wingspan: 11 m ()
- Height: 2.27 m ()
- Wing area: 14.95 m² ()
- Empty weight: 385 kg ()
- Loaded weight: 615 kg ()
- Useful load: 230 kg ()
- Powerplant: 1× Walter Mikron II 4-cylinder air-cooled inverted straight engine, 62 hp (44 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 180 km/h
- Cruise speed: 155 km/h
- Stall speed: 70 km/h ()
- Range: 700 km ()
- Service ceiling 4,150 m ()
- Rate of climb: 3.1 m/s ()
- Wing loading: 41.1 kg/m² ()
[edit] Specifications (RWD-21)
Data from Glass, A. (1977)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1, pilot
- Capacity: 1, passenger or co-pilot
- Length: 8.4 m ()
- Wingspan: 11 m ()
- Height: 2.12 m ()
- Wing area: 14.95 m² ()
- Empty weight: 425 kg ()
- Loaded weight: 660 kg ()
- Useful load: 235-260 kg ()
- Max takeoff weight: 685 kg ()
- Powerplant: 1× Cirrus Minor 4-cylinder air-cooled inverted straight engine, 90 hp (kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 210 km/h
- Cruise speed: 180 km/h
- Stall speed: 72 km/h ()
- Range: 650 km ()
- Service ceiling 5,500 m ()
- Rate of climb: 4.7 m/s ()
- Wing loading: 44.1 kg/m² ()
[edit] References
- Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" (Polish aviation constructions 1893-1939), WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977, p.322-323 (Polish)
[edit] See also
Comparable aircraft
[edit] External links
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