Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów

Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów (PWS) - "Podlasie Aircraft Works" - was the Polish aerospace manufacturer between 1923 and 1939, located in Biała Podlaska.

History

Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów SA was created in 1923. The first aircraft produced from 1925, were 35 Potez 15 bombers for the Polish Air Force, on the French licence. Then, by 1929 the works produced 155 Potez 27 and 150 Potez 25, also on the French licence, and 50 fighters PWS-A on the Czech licence (Avia BH-33).

From 1925, an own construction bureau was established. 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 Polish construction built in series).

In 1932 the PWS works were nationalized because of bad condition. Then it produced 500 trainers RWD-8 (designed by the RWD) and 50 trainers PWS-18 on 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 oubreak of World War II. Twin-engine advanced trainer PWS-33 Wyżeł was ordered to serial production, but it did not start due to war.

A division of the PWS - Lwowskie Warsztaty Lotnicze (LWL, "Lwów Aviation Workshops", built gliders, also designated with letters PWS.

After the outbreak of World War II, the PWS factory was bombed by the Germans on September 4, 1939, what put an end to the manufacturer. The remains of equipment were captured by the Soviets after their invasion of Poland.

List of aircraft