PZL S-4 Kania
Encyclopedia
The PZL
S-4 Kania was a Polish
trainer and glider towing aircraft of 1950s, not built in series. The first prototype was designated S-3 Kania. There is also a helicopter named PZL Kania
.
. The first prototype was named S-3 Kania (kite
(bird), S for Stankiewicz, it probably had no PZL prefix). It was built in the Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny
(SZD, Glider Experimental Works) in Bielsko-Biała
and first flew on 17 May 1951. It appeared quite successful, and was cheaper in production and service, than the CSS-13 (licensed Polikarpov Po-2
), but was not produced, because the Aviation Institute (Instytut Lotnictwa, IL) found some lacks in calculations and too weak landing gear. The work ceased, while the prototype was abandoned to ruin.
In 1956, the design was taken over by WSK-Mielec factory (partly due to an interest of the press, combined with shortages of aircraft in aero clubs
). It was developed and improved by Stankiewicz's team and on 2 September 1957, a new prototype, the PZL S-4 Kania-2, was flown. On 19 September 1958, another further improved prototype, the PZL S-4 Kania-3, flew, with enlarged tailfin. This underwent state trials in 1960 with good results. It offered good handling and was useful to training, glider towing, and basic aerobatics. It could tow 2 or 3 gliders at a time. The S-4 did not enter production, though, because due to a long development, the design had become dated. At that time, it was preferred to use metal aircraft in aeroclubs, and the PZL-104 Wilga
was in development. The other thing was, production of the obsolete M-11
engine had ceased in Poland.
Work on the third S-4 prototype was suspended. It was completed only in 1964 by the Aircraft Repair Works in Krosno
.
in 1958, among others it hauled several gliders. Along with the second S-4 prototype (registration SP-PBB), it was used by the aero club
in Mielec
. The third S-4 prototype was used in Krosno (registration SP-PBE). The second prototype was written off in the end of 1970, the rest around the same.
in Kraków
, from 1971.
(parasol wing
), conventional in layout. Semi-monocoque
fuselage. Crew of two, sitting in tandem
, in open cockpits with windshields. Fixed conventional landing gear
. Two-blade propeller. Fuel tanks 165 l.
PZL
PZL was the main Polish aerospace manufacturer of the interwar period, based in Warsaw, functioning in 1928-1939...
S-4 Kania was a Polish
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...
trainer and glider towing aircraft of 1950s, not built in series. The first prototype was designated S-3 Kania. There is also a helicopter named PZL Kania
PZL Kania
-References:* Taylor, John W R . Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982-83. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. ISBN 0 7106-0748-2.* Taylor, John W R . Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Defence Data, 1988. ISBN 0 7106-0867-5....
.
Design and development
The aircraft was designed by Eugeniusz Stankiewicz in 1950, its primary purpose was towing glidersGlider aircraft
Glider aircraft are heavier-than-air craft that are supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against their lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Mostly these types of aircraft are intended for routine operation without engines, though engine failure can...
. The first prototype was named S-3 Kania (kite
Kite (bird)
Kites are raptors with long wings and weak legs which spend a great deal of time soaring. Most feed mainly on carrion but some take various amounts of live prey.They are birds of prey which, along with hawks and eagles, are from the family Accipitridae....
(bird), S for Stankiewicz, it probably had no PZL prefix). It was built in the 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...
(SZD, Glider Experimental Works) in Bielsko-Biała
Bielsko-Biała
-Economy and Industry:Nowadays Bielsko-Biała is one of the best-developed parts of Poland. It was ranked 2nd best city for business in that country by Forbes. About 5% of people are unemployed . Bielsko-Biała is famous for its textile, machine-building, and especially automotive industry...
and first flew on 17 May 1951. It appeared quite successful, and was cheaper in production and service, than the CSS-13 (licensed Polikarpov Po-2
Polikarpov Po-2
The Polikarpov Po-2 served as a general-purpose Soviet biplane, nicknamed Kukuruznik for maize; thus, 'maize duster' or 'crop duster'), NATO reporting name "Mule"...
), but was not produced, because the Aviation Institute (Instytut Lotnictwa, IL) found some lacks in calculations and too weak landing gear. The work ceased, while the prototype was abandoned to ruin.
In 1956, the design was taken over by WSK-Mielec factory (partly due to an interest of the press, combined with shortages of aircraft in aero clubs
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....
). It was developed and improved by Stankiewicz's team and on 2 September 1957, a new prototype, the PZL S-4 Kania-2, was flown. On 19 September 1958, another further improved prototype, the PZL S-4 Kania-3, flew, with enlarged tailfin. This underwent state trials in 1960 with good results. It offered good handling and was useful to training, glider towing, and basic aerobatics. It could tow 2 or 3 gliders at a time. The S-4 did not enter production, though, because due to a long development, the design had become dated. At that time, it was preferred to use metal aircraft in aeroclubs, and the PZL-104 Wilga
PZL-104 Wilga
PZL-104 Wilga is a Polish designed and built short-takeoff-and-landing Civil Aviation utility aircraft manufactured by PZL "Warszawa-Okęcie";...
was in development. The other thing was, production of the obsolete M-11
Shvetsov M-11
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9...
engine had ceased in Poland.
Work on the third S-4 prototype was suspended. It was completed only in 1964 by the Aircraft Repair Works 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....
.
Operational history
The first S-4 Kania-2 prototype (registration SP-PAA) was shown on World Glider Championships in LesznoLeszno
Leszno is a town in central Poland with 63,955 inhabitants . Situated in the southern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship since 1999, it was previously the capital of the Leszno Voivodeship . The town has county status.-History:...
in 1958, among others it hauled several gliders. Along with the second S-4 prototype (registration SP-PBB), it was used by the 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....
in Mielec
Mielec
Mielec is a city in south-eastern Poland with a population of 60,979 inhabitants, as of June 2009. It is located in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship ; previously it was in Rzeszów Voivodeship...
. The third S-4 prototype was used in Krosno (registration SP-PBE). The second prototype was written off in the end of 1970, the rest around the same.
Operators
- Aeroklub Polski operated two S-4 prototypes in MielecMielecMielec is a city in south-eastern Poland with a population of 60,979 inhabitants, as of June 2009. It is located in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship ; previously it was in Rzeszów Voivodeship...
and the third S-4 prototype in KrosnoKrosnoKrosno 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....
. - Polish Air ForcePolish Air ForceThe Polish Air Force is the military Air Force wing of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej...
one aircraft only.
Survivors
The second prototype S-4 Kania-3 (SP-PBB) is preserved in the Polish Aviation MuseumPolish 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
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, from 1971.
Description
Wooden construction high-wing 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:...
(parasol wing
Parasol wing
A parasol wing monoplane is an aircraft design in which the wing is not mounted directly to the fuselage, but rather, the fuselage is supported beneath it by a set of struts, called cabane struts...
), conventional in layout. Semi-monocoque
Monocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
fuselage. 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 windshields. Fixed conventional 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...
. Two-blade propeller. Fuel tanks 165 l.
See also
External links
- Photos at Ugolok Neba site