Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów
Encyclopedia
Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów (PWS) - Podlasie Aircraft Works - was the Polish
aerospace manufacturer
between 1923 and 1939, located in Biała Podlaska.
was created in 1923. The first aircraft, produced from 1925, were 35 Potez 15
bombers for the Polish Air Force
, under the French licence. Then, by 1929 the works produced 155 Potez 27 and 150 Potez 25
, also under the French licence, and 50 fighters PWS-A under the Czech licence (Avia BH-33
). It also produced 50 Bartel BM-4
trainers in 1931, of the Samolot
factory design.
From 1925, an own construction bureau was established. The designers were, among others, Stefan Cywiński, Zbysław Ciołkosz, August Bobek-Zdaniewski. Despite a big number of prototypes, only some were produced in series. The first was PWS-10
fighter of 1930 (80 aircraft). Short series of a trainer PWS-14
and a passenger plane PWS-24
were also made (PWS-10 and PWS-24 were the first fighter and the first passenger plane of the Polish construction built in series). In 1929 the factory built a wind tunnel
, first in Poland. All PWS-designed aircraft had wooden or mixed construction.
In 1932 the PWS works were nationalized because of a bad financial condition. Then it produced 500 trainers RWD-8 (designed by the RWD
) and 50 trainers PWS-18
under the British licence (Avro Tutor). Soon the factory designed own successful advanced trainers PWS-16
and PWS-26
, the later built in 320 units in 1936-1939.
In 1936 the factory was subordinated to the PZL
national concern. It developed a series of projects of military planes, but they were not built due to outbreak of World War II
. Twin-engine advanced trainer PWS-33 Wyżeł and a sports biplane PWS-35 were ordered to serial production, but it did not start due to war.
A division of the PWS was Lwowskie Warsztaty Lotnicze (LWL, Lwów
Aviation Workshops), created in October 1937. It built gliders, among others designated with letters PWS. Some 160 gliders were made by the war.
After the outbreak of World War II, the PWS factory was bombed by the Germans on September 4, 1939, who destroyed about 70% of the factory. The remains of equipment were captured by the Soviets after their invasion of 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...
aerospace manufacturer
Aerospace manufacturer
An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing, building, testing, selling, and maintaining aircraft, aircraft parts, missiles, rockets, and/or spacecraft....
between 1923 and 1939, located in Biała Podlaska.
History
Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów SAS.A. (corporation)
S.A. designates a particular type of corporation in various countries, mostly those employing the civil law. It originated in Spain during the 16th century. Depending on language, the abbreviation stands for various phrases meaning anonymous society, anonymous company, anonymous partnership, or...
was created in 1923. The first aircraft, produced from 1925, were 35 Potez 15
Potez 15
|-See also:-References:* *...
bombers for 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...
, under the French licence. Then, by 1929 the works produced 155 Potez 27 and 150 Potez 25
Potez 25
|-See also:*Aerial operations in the Chaco War-References:Heinonen, Timo Heinonen: Thulinista Hornetiin, Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseon julkaisuja 3, 1992. ISBN 951-95688-2-4.-External links:* *...
, also under the French licence, and 50 fighters PWS-A under the Czech licence (Avia BH-33
Avia BH-33
|-See also:-References:* Belcarz, Bartłomiej . Avia BH-33 , PWS-10, PZL P.7a, Polskie Skrzydła #3. Sandomierz: Wydawnictwo Stratus, ISBN 83-89450-36-4 .* Němeček, Vaclav . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko.*...
). It also produced 50 Bartel BM-4
Bartel BM-4
|-References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 -External links:* at...
trainers in 1931, of the Samolot
Samolot
Samolot was the Polish aerospace manufacturer, located in Poznań and active between 1924 and 1930. It manufactured among others aircraft under the Bartel name.-History:...
factory design.
From 1925, an own construction bureau was established. The designers were, among others, Stefan Cywiński, Zbysław Ciołkosz, August Bobek-Zdaniewski. Despite a big number of prototypes, only some were produced in series. The first was PWS-10
PWS-10
-References:*Glass, Andrzej. "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977...
fighter of 1930 (80 aircraft). Short series of a trainer PWS-14
PWS-14
|-See also:...
and a passenger plane PWS-24
PWS-24
- See also :-References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 -External links:*...
were also made (PWS-10 and PWS-24 were the first fighter and the first passenger plane of the Polish construction built in series). In 1929 the factory built a wind tunnel
Wind tunnel
A wind tunnel is a research tool used in aerodynamic research to study the effects of air moving past solid objects.-Theory of operation:Wind tunnels were first proposed as a means of studying vehicles in free flight...
, first in Poland. All PWS-designed aircraft had wooden or mixed construction.
In 1932 the PWS works were nationalized because of a bad financial condition. Then it produced 500 trainers RWD-8 (designed by the RWD
RWD (aircraft manufacturer)
RWD was a Polish aircraft construction bureau active between 1928 and 1939. It started as a team of three young designers, Stanisław Rogalski, Stanisław Wigura and Jerzy Drzewiecki, whose names formed the RWD acronym.-History:...
) and 50 trainers PWS-18
PWS-18
-See also:-Bibliography:* Domański, Jerzy. "Samolot szkolno-treningowy PWS-18" Żołnierz Polski, nr 5/1991.* Glass, Andrzej and Cieślak, Krzysztof. "Samoloty i szybowce do 1939 roku" Barwa w lotnictwie polskim nr. 1. Warszawa, Poland: WKiŁ, 1985. ISBN 83-206-0456-7-External links:*...
under the British licence (Avro Tutor). Soon the factory designed own successful advanced trainers PWS-16
PWS-16
|-See also:...
and PWS-26
PWS-26
-References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 -See also:...
, the later built in 320 units in 1936-1939.
In 1936 the factory was subordinated to the PZL
PZL
PZL was the main Polish aerospace manufacturer of the interwar period, based in Warsaw, functioning in 1928-1939...
national concern. It developed a series of projects of military planes, but they were not built due to outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Twin-engine advanced trainer PWS-33 Wyżeł and a sports biplane PWS-35 were ordered to serial production, but it did not start due to war.
A division of the PWS was Lwowskie Warsztaty Lotnicze (LWL, Lwów
Lviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
Aviation Workshops), created in October 1937. It built gliders, among others designated with letters PWS. Some 160 gliders were made by the war.
After the outbreak of World War II, the PWS factory was bombed by the Germans on September 4, 1939, who destroyed about 70% of the factory. The remains of equipment were captured by the Soviets after their invasion of Poland
Soviet invasion of Poland
Soviet invasion of Poland can refer to:* the second phase of the Polish-Soviet War of 1920 when Soviet armies marched on Warsaw, Poland* Soviet invasion of Poland of 1939 when Soviet Union allied with Nazi Germany attacked Second Polish Republic...
.
List of aircraft
| Name | description and first flight year |
| PWS-A | 1-engine, 1-seater, fighter biplane, 1929 (licence Avia BH-33) |
| PWS-1 PWS-1 -References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 -External links:*... |
1-engine, 2-seater, heavy fighter high-wing monoplane, 1927 (prototype) |
| PWS-3 PWS-3 -External links:*... |
1-engine, 2-seater, sports high-wing monoplane, 1927 (prototype) |
| PWS-4 PWS-4 -External links:*... |
1-engine, 1-seater, sports low-wing monoplane, 1928 (prototype) |
| PWS-5 PWS-5 -See also:-External links:*... |
1-engine, 2-seater, army cooperation biplane, 1928 (short series) |
| PWS-6 PWS-6 -See also:-External links:*... |
1-engine, 2-seater, liaison biplane, 1930 (prototype) |
| PWS-8 PWS-8 |-See also:-References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 -External links:*... |
1-engine, 2-seater, sports biplane, 1929 (prototype) |
| PWS-10 PWS-10 -References:*Glass, Andrzej. "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977... |
1-engine, 1-seater, fighter high-wing monoplane, 1930 (series) |
| PWS-11 PWS-11 -See also:-External links:*... |
1-engine, 1-seater, trainer fighter high-wing monoplane, 1929 (prototype) |
| PWS-12 | 1-engine, 2-seater, trainer biplane, 1929 (prototype) |
| PWS-14 PWS-14 |-See also:... |
1-engine, 2-seater, trainer biplane, 1931 (series) |
| PWS-16 PWS-16 |-See also:... |
1-engine, 2-seater, trainer biplane, 1933 (series) |
| PWS-18 PWS-18 -See also:-Bibliography:* Domański, Jerzy. "Samolot szkolno-treningowy PWS-18" Żołnierz Polski, nr 5/1991.* Glass, Andrzej and Cieślak, Krzysztof. "Samoloty i szybowce do 1939 roku" Barwa w lotnictwie polskim nr. 1. Warszawa, Poland: WKiŁ, 1985. ISBN 83-206-0456-7-External links:*... |
1-engine, 2-seater, trainer biplane, 1935 (licence Avro 621) |
| PWS-19 PWS-19 |-References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 -See also:... |
1-engine, 2-seater, reconnaissance-bomber high-wing monoplane, 1931 (prototype) |
| PWS-20 PWS-20 |-External links:*... |
1-engine, 2+6-seater, passenger high-wing monoplane, 1929 (prototype) |
| PWS-21 PWS-21 -References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 -External links:*... bis |
1-engine, 2+4-seater, passenger high-wing monoplane, 1930 (prototype) |
| PWS-24 PWS-24 - See also :-References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 -External links:*... |
1-engine, 2+4-seater, passenger high-wing monoplane, 1931 (short series) |
| PWS-26 PWS-26 -References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 -See also:... |
1-engine, 2-seater, trainer biplane, 1935 (series) |
| PWS-33 Wyżeł | 2-engine, 2-seater, trainer low-wing monoplane, 1938 (prototype, series ordered) |
| PWS-35 | 1-engine, 2-seater, sports biplane, 1938 (prototype, series ordered) |
| PWS-40 | 1-engine, 2-seater, sports low-wing monoplane, 1939 (prototype) |
| PWS-50 PWS-50 -References: Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977, p.186-187-External links:*... |
1-engine, 2-seater, sports mid-wing monoplane, 1930 (prototype) |
| PWS-51 PWS-51 |-References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 -External links:*... |
1-engine, 2-seater, sports low-wing monoplane, 1930 (prototype) |
| PWS-52 PWS-52 |-References: Andrzej Glass, Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939 [Polish aviation constructions 1893-1939], WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 , pp.188-190.-External links:*... |
1-engine, 2-seater, sports high-wing monoplane, 1930 (prototype) |
| PWS-54 PWS-54 -References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 -External links:*... |
1-engine, 1+3-seater, passenger high-wing monoplane, 1933 (prototype) |
| PWS-101 | 1-seater glider Glider (sailplane) A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the sport of gliding. Some gliders, known as motor gliders are used for gliding and soaring as well, but have engines which can, in some cases, be used for take-off or for extending a flight... , 1937 (short series) |
| PWS-102 | 1-seater glider, 1939 (short series) |
| PWS-103 | 1-seater glider, 1940 (prototypes completed by the Soviets) |