RWD

Warsaw technical high school produced aeroplanes which grew to support an industry: see Doswiadczalne Warsztaty Lotnicze. All types were designated RWD from designers Rogalski, Wigura and Drzewiecki. RWD.1 (September 1928) was tandem 2-seat monoplane of 34 hp which won national competition. RWD.2 (May 1929) was 40-hp version which toured Europe and reached over 13,000 ft (3,962.4 m). RWD.3 was unsuccessful liaison aircraft. RWD.4 was 60-hp version of 2, 3 used by national team with much success. RWD.5 high-wing cabin 2-seater (7 August 1931) was built in quantity, one flying S. Atlantic (lightest aircraft ever to do so). RWD.7 was built to break speed and height records, which it did. RWD.8 tandem parasol trainer (November 1932) exceeded RWD productive capacity, about 100 being built plus over 500 by PWS. RWD.6 STOL high-wing cabin aircraft led to RWD.9, 6 being entered in 1934 Challenge de Tourisme and all finishing within top 10, later in 1934 taking first 3 places in Circuit of Europe. About 30 RWD.10 aerobatic trainers were followed by 110 RWD.13 STOL tourer/ambulance aircraft, over 30 of which survived war (in Romania) and were returned to Poland. LWS built 65 RWD.14b observation aircraft. By now an experienced team, RWD designed Types 15—25 before September 1939, but few were flown and even fewer survived war.

Read 152 times