PZL P.6: Difference between revisions

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Template:Infobox Aircraft The PZL P.6 was a Polish fighter, designed by the engineer Zygmunt Puławski, manufactured by PZL state-owned factor. It remained a prototype.

Design and development

The history of PZL P.6 started in 1928, when a talented designer, Zygmunt Puławski designed an all-metal metal-covered monoplane fighter PZL P.1. It introduced a high gull wing, giving a pilot an optimal view. The P.1 was powered with an inline engine, and developed a speed of 302 km/h, but remained a prototype, because it was decided, that a fighter for the Polish Air Force should be powered with a radial engine, licence produced in Poland. Therefore, the next model PZL P.6, was powered with the Bristol Jupiter VI FH radial engine. It was flown in August 1930 by Bolesław Orliński. It had a very similar wing, but a fuselage was thoroughly redesigned - it introduced modern semi-monocoque design, oval in cross-section, a tail changed as well. As a result, the plane was over 200 kg lighter. The P.6, just like the P.1, met with a huge interest in the world. Their wing design was called the "Polish wing" or "Pulawski wing". During a presentation at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget in December 1931, an aviation press, like L'Air, The Aeroplane, Flight, Die Luftwacht, recognized P.6 as one of the world's top fighters. Then, the prototype P.6, piloted by Orliński, won the American National Air Races in 29 August-7 September 1931.

The PZL P.6 did not enter production, because at the same time the next improved variant PZL P.7 was developed. The first P.7 prototype was basically the P.6 with a stronger engine Bristol Jupiter VII F. Thanks to a charger, it showed better performance on higher altitudes.

The P.6 prototype crashed on 11 October 1931 near Częstochowa because of a propeller break, resulting in tearing apart of engine. Its pilot, who was Bolesław Orliński, bailed out successfully.

Technical description

All-metal braced high-wing monoplane, duralumin-covered. The fuselage was framed in in a front section and semi-monocoque in mid and tail sections, oval in cross-section. Two-spar wing of trapezoid shape, thinner by the fuselage, covered with a rimmed Wibault type duralumin sheet, supported with two struts on either side. Pilot's cockpit was open, with a windshield. A fuel tank in a fuselage could be dropped in case of fire emergency. A fixed undercarriage with a rear skid. radial engine in front, with a Townend ring, two-blade propeller.

Operators

Poland

Polish Air Force

Specifications

General characteristics

Crew: 1

Performance Armament

2 x 7.7 mm Vickers E machine guns in a fuselage

Reference

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

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 The PZL P.6 did not enter production, because at the same time the next improved variant [[PZL P.7]] was developed. The first P.7 prototype was basically the P.6 with a stronger engine Bristol Jupiter VII F. Thanks to a charger, it showed better performance on higher altitudes.
-The P.6 prototype crashed on 11 October 1931 near [[Częstochowa]] because of a propeller break, resulting in tearing apart of engine. Its pilot, who was Bolesław Orliński, bailed out successfuly.
+The P.6 prototype crashed on 11 October 1931 near [[Częstochowa]] because of a propeller break, resulting in tearing apart of engine. Its pilot, who was Bolesław Orliński, bailed out successfully.
 ==Technical description==