PWS-19

PWS-19
Role	Reconnaissance / bomber plane
Manufacturer	PWS
First flight	September 1931
Status	Prototype
Primary user	Polish Air Force
Number built	1

The PWS-19 was a Polish reconnaissance and bomber plane prototype of the 1930s, constructed in the PWS (Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów - Podlasie Aircraft Factory).

Development

The PWS-19 was constructed in 1930 in order to replace the French-designed bombers Potez 25 and Breguet 19 in the Polish Air Force. It was a development of the PWS-17, which remained unbuilt. Main designers were Zbysław Ciołkosz and Antoni Uszacki. It was planned to be produced in two variants: reconnaissance PWS-19A2 and bomber PWS-19B2. It was a conventional design, a strutted high-wing monoplane with quite elegant silhouette, open cockpits and fixed landing gear. It was fitted with double tailfins to obtain a good field of defense fire.

In 1934 Antoni Uszacki designed a smaller plane basing on the PWS-19, designated PWS U-6, with G-1620 Mors 400 hp engine. It participated in a contest for an army cooperation plane, but lost against RWD-14 Czapla and was not built.

Operational history

The only prototype first flew in Biała Podlaska in September 1931. During tests it showed quite good flight characteristics, although the rudders had to be enlarged to improve manoeuvrability and stability. However, on March 17, in 1933, the wings distorted in a dive and the prototype crashed (killing an observer). The Air Force considered ordering the PWS-19A2 powered by a Bristol Pegasus engine, but at the same time, a more modern aircraft the PZL.23 Karaś had been developed by PZL - a low-wing monoplane of all-metal construction. As a result, works upon the PWS-19 stopped.

Description

Mixed construction high-wing (parasol) monoplane. A fuselage of a steel frame, covered with duralumin in front section and canvas in mid and rear sections. Two-spar wings, of wooden construction, plywood covered. Stabilizers, rudder and elevator of metal construction, canvas covered. Twin vertical tailfins. Crew of two (pilot and observer/gunner) in open individual cockpits. Conventional fixed landing gear, with a rear skid. The plane was fitted with RKL/D radio and camera.

Engine: 9 cylinder air-cooled radial Pratt & Whitney Hornet T2 in front, with a Townend ring (there were optional Bristol Jupiter VII or Bristol Pegasus). Two-blade metal propeller of a fixed pitch. Fuel tank 420 l in a fuselage, dropped in emergency.

Armament: single fixed front-mounted 7.7 mm Vickers machinegun with an interrupter gear, in a right fuselage side, single 7.7mm Vickers on a ring mounting of the observer. Up to 250 kg bombs (maximum bomb size - up to 50 kg).

Operators

 Poland

• Polish Air Force

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: 2, pilot, observer/gunner
• Length: 9.17 m (30 ft 1 in)
• Wingspan: 14.5 m (47 ft 6¾in)
• Height: 3.16 m (10 ft 4⅜in)
• Wing area: 29 m² (312 ft²)
• Empty weight: 1,340 kg (2,948 lb)
• Loaded weight: 1,950 kg (4,290 lb)
• Useful load: 845 kg (1,859 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,185 kg (4,807 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Hornet T2 air-cooled 9-cylinder radial, 525 hp nominal (392 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 234 km/h (126 knots, 145 mph)
• Cruise speed: 190 km/h (103 knots, 118 mph)
• Stall speed: <99 km/h (53 knots, 61 mph)
• Range: 700 km (378 nm, 435 mi)
• Service ceiling: 7,200 m (23,600 ft)
• Rate of climb: 7.5 m/s (1,476 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 67 kg/m² (13.8 lb/ft²)

Armament

• 2 x 7.7 mm Vickers guns (1 forward-firing, 1 movable),
• 250 kg (550 lb) bombs

References

• Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" (Polish aviation constructions 1893-1939), WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 (Polish language, no ISBN)

External links

• Photos and drawings at Ugolok Neba

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Letov S-328
• PZL.23 Karaś