| IS-3 ABC | |
|---|---|
| IS-3 ABC-A in the Polish Aviation Museum | |
| Role | Glider |
| National origin | Poland |
| Manufacturer | Instytut Szybownictwa |
| First flight | 31 December 1947 |
| Introduction | 1948 |
| Retired | 1961 |
| Number built | 256[1] |
The IS-3 ABC (Instytut Szybownictwa – Gliding Institute) was a single-seat training glider designed and built in Poland from 1947.
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From 1946 the IS (Gliding Institute) started work on designing gliders to rebuild the shattered by the war Polish gliding movement. Four types were required:
To fulfil the 'School' requirement the IS-3 ABC primary glider was designed by Rudolf Matz and Roman Zatwarnicki, and built at the workshops in Bielsko.
Using the sole remaining W.W.S.1 Salamandra as a starting point, the IS-3 ABC emerged looking similar to most primary gliders, with a high set rectangular low aspect ratio wing, wire-braced to an open structure wire-braced fuselage, which did nothing more than connect the seat, skid and tail unit to the wings.
The IS-3 ABC prototype first flew on New Years eve of 1948 by Peter Mynarski and after successful trials, a production commenced as the IS-3 ABC-bis. Further improvements resulted in the IS-3 ABC-ter, with a cabin and windscreen for the pilot. Last and most numerous variant was ABC-A of 1955, produced in 1956-57. 256 of all variants were manufactured in workshops in Bielsko (of IS, later SZD), Krosno and Lubawka[1] (according to other publications, 280, including 74 bis, 30 ter and 176 A[2]).
Polish instructors were also instrumental in boosting the gliding movement in the People's Republic of China, providing instruction and advice with the 50 IS-3 ABC A's exported there. This variant was modified with less dihedral (1°)[3], to allow the generally shorter Chinese students to hold the wings level for take-off. After flight trials in Poland it was confirmed that the it did not appreciably affect the handling. The Chinese also manufactured these gliders on the licence.
The IS-3 ABC series was in use at Polish state gliding clubs up to 1961, when the dual training syllabus was finally introduced. Many of the IS-3 primary gliders were dispersed to schools and clubs for use as training aids, some of which survive as exhibits in museums today.
Data from http://www.piotrp.de/SZYBOWCE/pis3.htm
General characteristics
Performance
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