PZL TS-8 Bies
Encyclopedia
The PZL
TS-8 Bies is a Polish
trainer aircraft, used from 1957
to 1970s by the Polish Air Force
and civilian aviation.
– hence a designation letters TS. The plane was named Bies - a folk name for the devil
. Work started in 1953
and the first prototype was flown on July 23, 1955. In 1956
and 1957
it beat three international records in its class. The second prototype was shown at the Paris Air Show
in 1957.
In 1957
the first experimental series of 10 aircraft was produced in WSK-Okecie
(designated as TS-8 BI). A slightly improved main variant (designated as TS-8 BII) was produced from 1958 to 1960 in WSK Mielec
. The last 10 machines were built with better avionics (TS-8 BIII). A total of 251 TS-8 were produced (229 in TS-8 BII variant).
The TS-8 had good handling and performance; a noisy engine was one of its few flaws. It was the first really modern aircraft designed in Poland after the war, also using a Polish engine.
. A semi-monocoque fuselage, oval in cross-section, metal-covered. Crew of two, sitting in tandem in a closed cockpit
, with twin controls (a student in front, an instructor in the rear). Canopy sections above crewmen are sliding rearwards. Three-part single-spar wing, of semi-monocoque design, creating a transverse "W" shape. Tricycle retractable landing gear. 7 cylinder radial engine
WN-3 in front, delivering 330 hp take-off power and 283 hp normal power. Two-blade wooden propeller of variable pitch, 2.2 m diameter. The plane had no armament, except for the experimental series TS-8 BI, which had one 12.7mm machine gun and two small bomb pylons.
. Over 100 aircraft were handed over to the civilian aviation (aero clubs
) then. Most TS-8s were withdrawn from civilian aviation by 1978
. Three fly until today. Two TS-8s were used in Indonesia
.
TS-8
TS-8 BI
TS-8 BII
TS-8 BIII
PZL
PZL was the main Polish aerospace manufacturer of the interwar period, based in Warsaw, functioning in 1928-1939...
TS-8 Bies is 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 aircraft, used from 1957
1957 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1957:- Events :* The Douglas AIR-2 Genie unguided air-to-air missile enters service with the United States Air Force...
to 1970s by the Polish Air Force
Polish Air Force
The 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...
and civilian aviation.
Development
The aircraft was designed in response to a Polish Air Force requirement for a modern piston-engined trainer with a retractable tricycle landing gear to replace Junak 3 and Yak-11 aircraft. The main designer was Tadeusz SołtykTadeusz Sołtyk
Tadeusz Sołtyk - was a Polish aircraft designer and engineer, most famous as the creator of the PZL TS-11 Iskra...
– hence a designation letters TS. The plane was named Bies - a folk name for the devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
. Work started in 1953
1953 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1953:- Events :*The first year in which the world's airlines carried more than 50 million people*Argentina initiates a study of the feasibility of converting either a cargo ship or a heavy cruiser into an aircraft carrier in an Argentine shipyard....
and the first prototype was flown on July 23, 1955. In 1956
1956 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1956:-February:* February 18 – An engine fire breaks out on a Scottish Airlines Avro York just after takeoff from Malta International Airport, Luqa, Malta...
and 1957
1957 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1957:- Events :* The Douglas AIR-2 Genie unguided air-to-air missile enters service with the United States Air Force...
it beat three international records in its class. The second prototype was shown at the Paris Air Show
Paris Air Show
The Paris Air Show is the world's oldest and largest air show. Established in 1909, it is currently held every odd year at Le Bourget Airport in north Paris, France...
in 1957.
In 1957
1957 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1957:- Events :* The Douglas AIR-2 Genie unguided air-to-air missile enters service with the United States Air Force...
the first experimental series of 10 aircraft was produced in WSK-Okecie
PZL
PZL was the main Polish aerospace manufacturer of the interwar period, based in Warsaw, functioning in 1928-1939...
(designated as TS-8 BI). A slightly improved main variant (designated as TS-8 BII) was produced from 1958 to 1960 in WSK Mielec
PZL-Mielec
PZL Mielec , formerly WSK-Mielec and WSK "PZL-Mielec" is the Polish aerospace manufacturer, based in Mielec...
. The last 10 machines were built with better avionics (TS-8 BIII). A total of 251 TS-8 were produced (229 in TS-8 BII variant).
The TS-8 had good handling and performance; a noisy engine was one of its few flaws. It was the first really modern aircraft designed in Poland after the war, also using a Polish engine.
Design
All-metal low-wing cantilever 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:...
. A semi-monocoque fuselage, oval in cross-section, metal-covered. Crew of two, sitting in tandem in a closed cockpit
Cockpit
A cockpit or flight deck is the area, usually near the front of an aircraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft. Most modern cockpits are enclosed, except on some small aircraft, and cockpits on large airliners are also physically separated from the cabin...
, with twin controls (a student in front, an instructor in the rear). Canopy sections above crewmen are sliding rearwards. Three-part single-spar wing, of semi-monocoque design, creating a transverse "W" shape. Tricycle retractable landing gear. 7 cylinder 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...
WN-3 in front, delivering 330 hp take-off power and 283 hp normal power. Two-blade wooden propeller of variable pitch, 2.2 m diameter. The plane had no armament, except for the experimental series TS-8 BI, which had one 12.7mm machine gun and two small bomb pylons.
Operational history
The TS-8s started to be withdrawn from the Polish Air Force in the mid-1960s, replaced by jet trainers PZL TS-11 IskraPZL TS-11 Iskra
|-See also:-References:*"Poland's Veteran Spark". Air International, March 1979, Vol 16 No. 3. Bromley, UK:Fine Scroll Publishing. pp. 126–131....
. Over 100 aircraft were handed over to the civilian aviation (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....
) then. Most TS-8s were withdrawn from civilian aviation by 1978
1978 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1978:-January:* January 1 – British Aircraft Corporation, Hawker Siddeley, and Scottish Aviation are absorbed into British Aerospace...
. Three fly until today. Two TS-8s were used in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
.
Variants
- 3 prototypes.
TS-8 BI
- First experimental series, 10 built.
TS-8 BII
- Improved TS-8 BI. Main production version, 229 built.
TS-8 BIII
- Version equipped with better avionics, 10 built.
Operators
- Indonesian Air ForceIndonesian Air ForceThe Indonesian Air Force is the air force branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.The Indonesian Air Force has 34,930 personnel equipped with 110 combat aircraft including Su-27 and Su-30.-Before Indonesian independence :...
received two aircraft which were based in BandungBandungBandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan area in Indonesia, with a population of 7.4 million in 2007. Located 768 metres above sea level, approximately 140 km southeast of Jakarta, Bandung has cooler...
.
- 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...
- Polish NavyPolish NavyThe Marynarka Wojenna Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej - MW RP Polish Navy, is the branch of Republic of Poland Armed Forces responsible for naval operations...
- Aeroklub Polski