RWD 10

RWD-10
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Role	Aerobatics plane
Manufacturer	DWL
Designer	RWD team
First flight	July 1933
Introduction	1935
Retired	1939
Primary user	Poland
Produced	1937-1938
Number built	~22+1

The RWD-10 was a Polish aerobatics sports plane, single-seat parasol wing monoplane, used from 1933 to 1939 by the Polish aviation, constructed by the RWD team.

Development

The aircraft was designed as a single-seater aerobatic sports plane, that could also be used as a trainer for fighter aircraft pilots. The main designer was Jerzy Drzewiecki of the RWD construction team in the DWL (Doświadczalne Warsztaty Lotnicze) workshops. Its silhouette was similar to the RWD-8. The first prototype (registration SP-ALC), was flown in July 1933 by Drzewiecki. Its stability was not satisfactory, but after modifications, including lengthening a fuselage, it appeared a successful design and it completed state trials in 1935. In a mock dogfight with the PZL P.11c fighter, the RWD-10 kept on the P.11's tail. The first public aerobatics show of the RWD-10 took place during a Gordon Bennett Cup in ballooning on September 14–15, 1935 in Warsaw.

In 1936, a series of 20 aircraft was ordered by the LOPP paramilitary organization, funded by a public collection for aviation development. They were built in 1937 and then distributed among the Polish regional aero clubs - most (5) for Warsaw Aero Club. In 1938, another two were built. In total, approximately 22 serial RWD-10s were produced.

Three aircraft were crashed before the war, the rest were probably destroyed during the Invasion of Poland in 1939.

Description

Mixed construction single-engine single-seat braced high-wing (parasol wing) monoplane, conventional in layout. Fuselage of a steel frame, covered with canvas on a wooden frame, in aluminum in engine section. Straight double-trapezoid two-part wing, of wooden construction, covered with canvas and plywood in front, two-spar. The wing was supported by a central pyramid and twin struts. Wooden construction cantilever empennage, covered with plywood (stabilizers) and canvas (rudder and elevators). A pilot in an open cockpit, had a windshield. Conventional fixed landing gear, with a rear skid. Four-cylinder air-cooled inverted straight engine PZInż. Junior (licence built Walter Junior) with 82 kW (110 hp) nominal power and 90 kW (120 hp) take-off power. Two-blade wooden propeller Szomański, of a fixed pitch. Fuel tank in the fuselage: 54 l (fuel consumption 25 l/h).

Specifications (RWD-10)

Data from Glass, A. (1977)

General characteristics

• Crew: One, pilot
• Length: 6.2 m (20 ft 4 in)
• Wingspan: 7.5 m (24 ft 7 in)
• Height: 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in)
• Wing area: 9 m² (96.65 ft²)
• Empty weight: 350 kg (770 lb)
• Loaded weight: 475 kg (1,050 lb)
• Useful load: 125 kg (lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × PZInż. Junior 4-cylinder air-cooled inverted straight engine, 120 hp (90 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 218 km/h (135 mph)
• Cruise speed: 180 km/h (mph)
• Stall speed: 95 km/h (mph)
• Range: 360 km (224 mi)
• Service ceiling: 6,000 m (19,680 ft)
• Rate of climb: 6.2 m/s, 372 m/min (1,220 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 53 kg/m² (10.9 lb/ft²)
  
• Take-off: 70 m
• Landing: 100 m

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Focke-Wulf Fw 56

References

• Glass, Andrzej: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" (Polish aviation constructions 1893-1939), WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977, p. 308-311 (Polish)
• Cynk, Jerzy B.. “Polish Aircraft 1893–1939”. London, Putnam. 1971. ISBN 0-370-00085-4

External links

• photos and drawings at Ugolok Neba site