PZL Bielsko SZD-15
Encyclopedia
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The SZD-15 Sroka (Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny
- Glider Experimental Works) was a single-seat glider designed and built in Poland
in 1956.
in the single-seat trainer role, at the request of the LPŻ (Soldier's Friends League) from 1955. Of typical wooden construction with plywood or fabric covering, the SZD-15 Sroka was typical of many contemporary club training gliders throughout Europe. The main designer on the project was Z. Badura. The first prototype, named 'Pionier' (registration SP-1598) was flown on 25 February 1956 by Stanisław Skrzydlewski at Bielsko
, leading to modifications to improve the room in the cockpit, re-position the winch launch hook to increase directional stability during winch launching, and to increase the strength of the forward fuselage. Further improvements were made to the second prototype, SZD-15-2 Sroka (registration SP-1667), which flew on 1 February 1957. Production aircraft were designated SZD-15A, and 20 were built in ZSLS in Krosno
, in addition to the two prototypes. The flying characteristics of the SZD-15A were a marked improvement on those of the IS-B Komar
, including better climb performance in weak thermals. The solo training regime employed by Polish Aero Club
s up to the late 1950s was eventually proven to be inefficient, thus the 'raison d'etre' of the SZD-15 Sroka was removed, and the remaining SZD-15s were used as club single seaters until superseded by higher performance club aircraft in the mid-1970s. Two, including the first prototype, are preserved in the Polish Aviation Museum
in Kraków.
SP-1598.
SZD-15-2 Sroka - the second prototype with modifications.
SZD-15A Sroka - production aircraft, 20 built.
The SZD-15 Sroka (Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny
Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny
Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny , Glider Experimental Works was a glider design and research centre of the Polish aerospace industry after World War II, located in Bielsko-Biała. Through its history it underwent many organizational and name changes, among others in 1946-1948 it was Instytut...
- Glider Experimental Works) was a single-seat glider designed and built in Poland
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...
in 1956.
Development
The SZD-15 Sroka (Magpie) was designed as a replacement for the IS-B KomarIS-B Komar
|-See also:-References:* Taylor, J. H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. Studio Editions: London. p. 29-External links:* http://www.piotrp.de/SZYBOWCE/pis8.htm* http://mlp.h2.pl/zbiory_sz.php?ido=83&w=a...
in the single-seat trainer role, at the request of the LPŻ (Soldier's Friends League) from 1955. Of typical wooden construction with plywood or fabric covering, the SZD-15 Sroka was typical of many contemporary club training gliders throughout Europe. The main designer on the project was Z. Badura. The first prototype, named 'Pionier' (registration SP-1598) was flown on 25 February 1956 by Stanisław Skrzydlewski at Bielsko
Bielsko
Bielsko was until 1950 an independent town situated in Cieszyn Silesia, Poland. In 1951 it was joined with Biała Krakowska to form the new town of Bielsko-Biała. Bielsko constitutes the western part of that town....
, leading to modifications to improve the room in the cockpit, re-position the winch launch hook to increase directional stability during winch launching, and to increase the strength of the forward fuselage. Further improvements were made to the second prototype, SZD-15-2 Sroka (registration SP-1667), which flew on 1 February 1957. Production aircraft were designated SZD-15A, and 20 were built in ZSLS in Krosno
Krosno
Krosno is a town and county in Subcarpathian Voivodeship, Poland with 47,455 inhabitants, as of 2 June 2009.Notably Krosno is the site of the first oil well in the world....
, in addition to the two prototypes. The flying characteristics of the SZD-15A were a marked improvement on those of the IS-B Komar
IS-B Komar
|-See also:-References:* Taylor, J. H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. Studio Editions: London. p. 29-External links:* http://www.piotrp.de/SZYBOWCE/pis8.htm* http://mlp.h2.pl/zbiory_sz.php?ido=83&w=a...
, including better climb performance in weak thermals. The solo training regime employed by Polish Aero Club
Polish Aero Club
Aeroklub Polski is the Polish central association of persons practising air sports or recreational flying. It was founded in 1921 and is a member of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. It has a headquarters in Warsaw....
s up to the late 1950s was eventually proven to be inefficient, thus the 'raison d'etre' of the SZD-15 Sroka was removed, and the remaining SZD-15s were used as club single seaters until superseded by higher performance club aircraft in the mid-1970s. Two, including the first prototype, are preserved in the Polish Aviation Museum
Polish Aviation Museum
Polish Aviation Museum is a large museum of old aircraft and aircraft engines in Kraków, Poland. It is located at the site of the no-longer functional Kraków-Rakowice-Czyżyny Airport. This airfield, established by Austria-Hungary in 1912, is one of the oldest in the world...
in Kraków.
Variants
SZD-15 Pioneer - the first prototype, registrationAircraft registration
An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile...
SP-1598.
SZD-15-2 Sroka - the second prototype with modifications.
SZD-15A Sroka - production aircraft, 20 built.