Politechnika Warszawska PW-6

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The Politechnika Warszawska PW-6U is a Polish two-seat training sailplane designed at the Warsaw University of Technology for basic flight instruction and transition training to the PW-5 single-seater. It is manufactured at PZL Świdnik since 2000.

Development

The PW-6 was designed to be an ab initio trainer with the capability of providing cross-country training as well. It has handling and performance characteristics similar to the Politechnika Warszawska PW-5. In this way, the transition to solo flying in the single-seater can be made sooner.

The prototype of the PW-6, built at DWLKK, made its maiden flight from Bemowo Airfield, Warsaw, in July 1998. Type certification was granted in September 2000, with Jerzy Kedzierski and Maciej Lasek having performed the test flights. Serial production started at PZL Swidnik soon afterwards, with first deliveries to Egypt, New Zealand, Belgium, Canada, United States, Portugal and Germany.

Design

*Classical shoulder-wing, two seater, tandem layout, designed in accordance with the requirements of JAR-22 Utility Category.
*Wing shape and profile are similar to the PW-5 design: trapeze contour with bow-shaped ends, shoulder-set on the fuselage, having a monospar structure with sandwich shells. Schempp-Hirth-type air brakes extend on the upper wing surface only.
*Fuselage shell of glass-epoxy composite monocoque structure, stiffened with frames. Fabric covered rudder.
*Fixed undercarriage consisting of main wheel behind the rear pilot, with shock absorber and drum brake, a smaller front wheel and a robust tail wheel to prevent ground scraping if over rotation takes place during take off or landing.
*Two tow releases, for aerotowing and winch-launching respectively.

Variants

The following derivatives have been projected, though not yet built:
*PW-7 Motorglider project: two seater side-by-side motorglider, with PW-6 wing geometry.
*PW-9A Aerobatic Training Glider, automatic control connections and tail ballast compartment.
*PW-9M Self Launching Training Glider, with Solo engine and folding propeller.

pecifications

aerospecs
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crew=Two
capacity=
length m=7.85
length ft=25
length in=9
span m=16.00
span ft=52
span in=6
swept m=
swept ft=
swept in=
rot number=
rot dia m=
rot dia ft=
rot dia in=
dia m=
dia ft=
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width m=
width ft=
width in=
height m=2.44
height ft=8
height in=0
wing area sqm=15.3
wing area sqft=164
swept area sqm=
swept area sqft=
rot area sqm=
rot area sqft=
volume m3=
volume ft3=
aspect ratio= 16.8
empty weight kg=ca. 360
empty weight lb=790
gross weight kg=246
gross weight lb=1,200
lift kg=
lift lb=

eng1 number=
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eng1 kw=
eng1 hp=
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max speed kmh=260
max speed mph=160
max speed mach=
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range km=
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endurance h=
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ceiling m=
ceiling ft=
glide ratio= 34
climb rate ms=
climb rate ftmin=
sink rate ms= 0.75
sink rate ftmin= 147

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armament6= aircontent
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References

*Ewald J, Flight Test: PW-6, Sailplane and Gliding, Feb-Mar 2001
* [http://www.wcsa.org/history.htm The World Class Soaring Association]