Lublin R-X
Encyclopedia
The Lublin R-X was the Polish
liaison aircraft
, built in 1929
in the Plage i Laśkiewicz
factory in Lublin
.
, the Polish War Ministry opened a contest for a military liaison and observation plane. It was meant to operate from casual airfields, used by Army land units. The private factory Plage i Laśkiewicz in Lublin proposed the Lublin R-X, designed in 1928 by Jerzy Rudlicki
. The first prototype was flown on February 1, 1929. Although its mass was bigger, and the performance was lower, than expected, the plane appeared quite successful and five pre-series aircraft were built in 1929, designated R-Xa. The R-Xa were fitted with an armament - a machine gun in a rear cab.
After evaluation by the Polish Air Force, the R-Xa won the contest for a liaison plane in December 1929, over PWS-5t2
and PZL Ł.2, having the shortest take-off and landing, good handling at low speed and satisfactory performance, but the factory was ordered to develop design further. The result was a new design Lublin R-XIII
, basing upon the R-X construction and mass-produced.
The seventh R-X was built in 1929 as a long-distance sports plane. It had fuel tanks 800 l and a range of 2500 km. In 1932 it was modified with an addition of the Townend ring onto the engine, wheels' covers and metal propeller, and designated the R-Xa bis. The R-Xs had factory numbers 52-1 to 52-7.
, conventional in layout. A fuselage of a steel frame, canvas-covered (engine part was duralumin-covered). Rectangular wings with elliptical ends, two-spar, of wooden construction, canvas and plywood covered. Wings could be dismounted. Crew of two, sitting in tandem
in open cockpits, with twin controls. Conventional fixed landing gear
, with a rear skid. The observer had a 7.7 mm machine gun on a ring mounting. A 9 cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Wright Whirlwind J-5Ab (produced in Poland by Polish Skoda
Works) with 162 kW (220 hp) nominal power and 176 kW (240 hp) take-off power. Two-blade wooden or metal propeller
, 2.7 m diameter. Fuel tank 250 liters in the fuselage, could be dropped in case of fire emergency (normal fuel capacity was 200 l).
The R-Xa bis was used for several long-distance flights. It carried a registration SP-ABW and was named "Srebrny Ptak" (Silver Bird). On August 25, 1929 it flew from Poznań
to Barcelona
(1800 km non stop). In September 23 - October 7, 1931 Stanisław Karpiński flew it around the Europe (6450 km Warsaw - Bucharest
- Stambul - Rome - Torino - London - Warsaw).
In October 2 - October 24, 1932 Stanisław Karpiński flew the R-Xa bis from Warsaw through Stambul, Bagdad, Teheran, Kabul
, Cairo to Warsaw (14,390 km in 108 h 50'). The plane was scrapped in 1935.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
liaison aircraft
Liaison aircraft
A liaison aircraft is a small, usually unarmed aircraft primarily used by military forces for artillery observation or transporting commanders and messages. The concept developed before World War II and included also battlefield reconnaissance, air ambulance, column control, light cargo delivery...
, built in 1929
1929 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1929:- Events :* Greatest number of fatal civil aircraft crashes in US history.* Cubana de Aviación begins service.* Pan American World Airways begins service.* The Canadian Siskins aerobatic team is formed....
in the Plage i Laśkiewicz
Plage i Laskiewicz
Plage i Laśkiewicz was the first Polish aerospace manufacturer, located in Lublin and manufacturing aircraft under Lublin name. Full name was: Zakłady Mechaniczne E. Plage i T. Laśkiewicz - Mechanical Works E. Plage & T. Laśkiewicz...
factory in Lublin
Lublin
Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...
.
Development
In 19271927 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1927:-Events:* The United States Navys becomes the first aircraft carrier to operate a multi-engine aircraft, the twin-engine Douglas T2D-1....
, the Polish War Ministry opened a contest for a military liaison and observation plane. It was meant to operate from casual airfields, used by Army land units. The private factory Plage i Laśkiewicz in Lublin proposed the Lublin R-X, designed in 1928 by Jerzy Rudlicki
Jerzy Rudlicki
Rudlicki Jerzy was a Polish aerospace engineer who invented and in 1930 patented the V-tail configuration for aircraft combining the ailerons and elevators in one system. He both worked in the World War I and World War II on aircraft...
. The first prototype was flown on February 1, 1929. Although its mass was bigger, and the performance was lower, than expected, the plane appeared quite successful and five pre-series aircraft were built in 1929, designated R-Xa. The R-Xa were fitted with an armament - a machine gun in a rear cab.
After evaluation by the Polish Air Force, the R-Xa won the contest for a liaison plane in December 1929, over PWS-5t2
PWS-5
-See also:-External links:*...
and PZL Ł.2, having the shortest take-off and landing, good handling at low speed and satisfactory performance, but the factory was ordered to develop design further. The result was a new design Lublin R-XIII
Lublin R-XIII
The Lublin R-XIII was the Polish army-cooperation plane , designed in the early-1930s in the Plage i Laśkiewicz factory in Lublin. It was the main army cooperation plane in the Invasion of Poland...
, basing upon the R-X construction and mass-produced.
The seventh R-X was built in 1929 as a long-distance sports plane. It had fuel tanks 800 l and a range of 2500 km. In 1932 it was modified with an addition of the Townend ring onto the engine, wheels' covers and metal propeller, and designated the R-Xa bis. The R-Xs had factory numbers 52-1 to 52-7.
Design
Mixed construction (steel and wood) braced high-wing (parasol) monoplaneMonoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. Since the late 1930s it has been the most common form for a fixed wing aircraft.-Types of monoplane:...
, conventional in layout. A fuselage of a steel frame, canvas-covered (engine part was duralumin-covered). Rectangular wings with elliptical ends, two-spar, of wooden construction, canvas and plywood covered. Wings could be dismounted. Crew of two, sitting in tandem
Tandem
Tandem is an arrangement where a team of machines, animals or people are lined up one behind another, all facing in the same direction....
in open cockpits, with twin controls. Conventional fixed landing gear
Landing Gear
Landing Gear is Devin the Dude's fifth studio album. It was released on October 7, 2008. It was his first studio album since signing with the label Razor & Tie. It features a high-profile guest appearance from Snoop Dogg. As of October 30, 2008, the album has sold 18,906 copies.-Track...
, with a rear skid. The observer had a 7.7 mm machine gun on a ring mounting. A 9 cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Radial engine
The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders point outward from a central crankshaft like the spokes on a wheel...
Wright Whirlwind J-5Ab (produced in Poland by Polish Skoda
Škoda Works
Škoda Works was the largest industrial enterprise in Austro-Hungary and later in Czechoslovakia, one of its successor states. It was also one of the largest industrial conglomerates in Europe in the 20th century...
Works) with 162 kW (220 hp) nominal power and 176 kW (240 hp) take-off power. Two-blade wooden or metal propeller
Propeller
A propeller is a type of fan that transmits power by converting rotational motion into thrust. A pressure difference is produced between the forward and rear surfaces of the airfoil-shaped blade, and a fluid is accelerated behind the blade. Propeller dynamics can be modeled by both Bernoulli's...
, 2.7 m diameter. Fuel tank 250 liters in the fuselage, could be dropped in case of fire emergency (normal fuel capacity was 200 l).
Operational service
The pre-series R-Xa were used by the Polish Air Force since 1929. In 1931 three aircraft were modified as liaison staff machines, by removing a machine gun ring from a rear cab and fitting it with a comfortable seat.The R-Xa bis was used for several long-distance flights. It carried a registration SP-ABW and was named "Srebrny Ptak" (Silver Bird). On August 25, 1929 it flew from Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
to Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
(1800 km non stop). In September 23 - October 7, 1931 Stanisław Karpiński flew it around the Europe (6450 km Warsaw - Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
- Stambul - Rome - Torino - London - Warsaw).
In October 2 - October 24, 1932 Stanisław Karpiński flew the R-Xa bis from Warsaw through Stambul, Bagdad, Teheran, Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
, Cairo to Warsaw (14,390 km in 108 h 50'). The plane was scrapped in 1935.