RWD-23

infobox Aircraft
name =RWD-23
type =Trainer
manufacturer =DWL


caption =
designer = RWD team
first flight =1938/1939
introduced =
retired =
status = prototype
primary user =Poland
more users =
produced =
number built =1
unit cost =
variants with their own articles = The RWD-23 was a Polish low-wing trainer aircraft of 1938, constructed by the RWD team, that remained a prototype.

Development

The aircraft was designed in 1938 to fill the gap in the Polish trainer aircraft, by creating a light low-wing trainer. All trainers built in series in Poland so far were high-wing monoplanes, first of all the RWD-8, or biplanes. Main designer was Andrzej Anczutin of the RWD bureau. Among designers were also Bronisław Żurakowski and Tadeusz Chyliński. Chyliński designed the base mount for its engine. [Andrzej Glass (2003). "Słownik biograficzny techników polskich", SBTP: Warsaw, p. 24: fragment of its entry about Tadeusz Chyliński: ( _pl. W 1937 r. podjął prace w Doświadczalnych Warsztatach Lotniczych (RWD) jako konstr., jednocześnie kontynuowal studia. Pracował przy dok. seryjnej samolotu obserwacyjnego RWD-14 Czapla, następnie zaprojektował plat samolotu zawodniczego RWD-19, kadlub samolotu dyspozycyjnego RWD-18, łoże silnika do samolotu szk. RWD-23 i dźwigar płata samolotu myśliwskiego RWD-25. W l. 1933-38 byl czl. Sekcji Lotniczej Kola Mechaników Stud. PW.)] . The plane was similar to de Havilland Moth Minor, but over 100 kg lighter. Low power output and simple wooden construction would make it cheap and economical in service, and therefore it might replace the RWD-8 in aeroclubs.

The first prototype (registration SP-BPO) was flown in late 1938 or early 1939 in Warsaw (by E. Przysiecki). It underwent factory trials in June 1939, then it was given to tests to the Aviation Technical Institute. It was destroyed in first days of World War II, in September 1939. The plane was found as successful, it could also perform basic aerobatics.

The second improved prototype was under construction, when the war broke out, but it was not completed. The LOPP paramilitary organization ordered a series of 10 aircraft, that were not completed due to the war.

Description

Wooden construction low-wing cantilever monoplane, conventional in layout, with a fixed landing gear and open cockpits. Fuselage semi-monocoque, rectangular in cross-section, plywood-covered. Single-piece trapezoid wings with rounded tips, single-spar, plywood (front) and canvas covered, fitted with flaps. Conventional tail of a shape typical to RWD designs, like RWD-8, plywood (fins) and canvas (elevators and rudder) covered. Two open cockpits in tandem, with individual windshields and twin controls. Rear cockpit was raised a bit for a better view. Conventional fixed landing gear with a rear skid, main gear in aerodynamic covers.

convert|62|hp|abbr=on Walter Mikron II inline engine in front, with two-blade wooden propeller. convert|90|hp|abbr=on Cirrus Minor or 63 hp Avia 3 engines could also to be installed. Fuel tank 45 l in a fuselage, cruise fuel consumption 14 l/h.

pecifications

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=
crew=1
capacity=1, student
payload main=
payload alt=
length main= 8 m
length alt=
span main= 11.1 m
span alt=
height main= 1.9 m
height alt=
area main= 16 m²
area alt=
airfoil=
empty weight main= 325 kg
empty weight alt=
loaded weight main= 550 kg
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=225 kg
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=
engine (prop)= Walter Mikron II
type of prop=four-cylinder air-cooled inverted straight engine
number of props=1
power main= 62 hp
power alt=46 kW
power original=
max speed main=171 km/h
max speed alt=
cruise speed main=150 km/h
cruise speed alt=
stall speed main=65 km/h
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main= 450 km
range alt=
ceiling main= 3,500 m
ceiling alt=
climb rate main= 2.6 m/s
climb rate alt=
loading main= 34.2 kg/m²
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

References

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

ee also

aircontent
related=
similar aircraft=
*de Havilland Moth Minor - ICAR Universal - Yakovlev UT-2 - Miles Hawk Trainer - CSS-10

lists=

see also=

External links

* [http://www.airwar.ru/enc/law1/rwd23.html Photos and drawings at Ugolok Neba]