SZD-20X Wampir II

SZD 20x Wampir 2
Role	Glider
National origin	Poland
Manufacturer	PZL Bielsko
First flight	9 September 1959[1]
Number built	1

The SZD-20x Wampir II (Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny - Glider Experimental Works) was a single-seat tail-less research glider designed and built in Poland from 1959.

Contents 1 Development 2 Specifications (SZD-20 Wampir II) 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

Development

The SZD-20X Wampir II (vampire II) was designed to compare a flying wing designed to Standard class rules with a more conventional standard class glider. Main designer was Jan Dyrek. Based on experience with the earlier SZD-6X Nietoperz and SZD-13 Wampir tail-less gliders, the SZD-20X was an all wood flying wing, with the pilot sitting in a pod extending aft of the trailing edge on the centreline, and large swept fins & rudders at approx 2/3 span on each wing. The SZD-20X was associated with the number 15, having a 15m span, aspect ratio of 15 and wing area of 15m², whether this was by design or accident is not known^[2]. Early flight trials commenced with hops towed behind a car to test control responses, followed by an aero-tow launch on 9 September 1959, piloted by Adam Zientek. Flight trials revealed a marked sensitivity to turbulence resulting in flutter, and during trials at stalling speed, the SZD-20X entered a spin, which the rudders were unable to recover the aircraft from, only when the pilot shifted his weight as far forward as he could, did the SZD-20X recover from the spin^[3]. Flying in the SZD-20X continued until 6 October 1959, when turbulence-induced flutter tore the aircraft apart, the pilot escaping with parachute^[4].

Specifications (SZD-20 Wampir II)

Data from http://www.piotrp.de/SZYBOWCE/dszd20.htm

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 3 m (9 ft 9-1/2 in)
• Wingspan: 15 m (49 ft 2-1/2 in)
• Height: 1.7 m (5 ft 6-1/2 in)
• Wing area: 15 m² (161.5 ft²)
• Aspect ratio: 15:1
• Wing profile: NACA 23112
• Empty weight: 175 kg (385.8 lb)
• Gross weight: 250 kg (551 lb)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 200 km/h (124.3 mph)
• Stall speed: 58 km/h (36 mph)
• Maximum glide ratio: 24.4:1 @ 83 km/h ( 44.8 kts / 51.6 mph)
• Rate of sink: 0.85 m/s ( ft/min)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Horten H.IV
• SZD-6X Nietoperz
  

References

• Taylor, J. H. (ed) (1989) Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. Studio Editions: London. p. 29

External links

• http://www.piotrp.de/SZYBOWCE/dszd20.htm
• http://www.vintagesailplanes.de/SZD_20.htm

Polish post-1945 gliders Instytut Szybownictwa IS-1 · IS-2 · IS-3 · IS-4 · IS-5 · IS-A · IS-B · IS-C Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny / PZL Bielsko-Biała / Allstar PZL Glider SZD-C · SZD-6 · SZD-7 · SZD-8 · SZD-9 · SZD-10 · SZD-11 · SZD-12 · SZD-13 · SZD-14 · SZD-15 · SZD-16 · SZD-17 · SZD-18 · SZD-19 · SZD-20 · SZD-21 · SZD-22 · SZD-23 · SZD-24 · SZD-25 · SZD-26 · SZD-27 · SZD-28 · SZD-29 · SZD-30 · SZD-31 · SZD-32 · SZD-33 · SZD-34 · SZD-35 · SZD-36 · SZD-37 · SZD-38 · SZD-39 · SZD-40 · SZD-41 · SZD-42 · SZD-43 · SZD-45 · SZD-48 · SZD-49 · SZD-50 · SZD-51 · SZD-52 · SZD-54 · SZD-55 · SZD-56 · SZD-59 Politechnika Warszawska PW-2 · PW-3 · PW-4 · PW-5 · PW-6 Margański & Mysłowski MDM-1 Fox · Swift S-1

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