Koło Naukowe Lotników

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The Koło Naukowe Lotników (KNL) (loosely translated: Aviation Science Association , literally the Scientific Circle of Aviation ) is an academic aviation group at the Faculty of Mechanics - Energy - Aviation Technology (MEL) of Politechnika in Warsaw . It was founded by Edward Margański in 1962 and follows the tradition of predecessor associations that designed and built aircraft in Poland between 1923 and 1949.

During socialist times the group received little official support, and the cooperation with the Polish glider construction was extremely difficult due to the conditions of the planned economy. This even included the procurement of synthetic resin and fiberglass. At that time there were already contacts with Idaflieg .

In addition to the KNL, there are various similar student associations, called koło (Polish for circle ), for aerodynamics and space travel , among others .

Research projects

Koło Naukowe Lotników is active in the field of aeronautical research and has made its own constructions fly.

  • Moto Foka-4 The project from 1968 envisaged the conversion of a Foka 4 to a motor glider , but failed due to the lack of a suitable motor.
  • EM-5A The powered aircraft project from 1969 to 1971 was built by PZL Mielec as a prototype PZL M-17 in 1977.
  • KNL 1 & 2 motor glider projects from 1973 to 1975. Here, too, there were material problems.
  • PW-1 The ultra-light glider with a weight of 55 kg was developed and built between 1978 and 1981. 1981 was the first flight. With a wingspan of 10.9 m and a glide ratio of 16, it can be considered a modern version of a school glider . It remained a one-off.
  • PW-2 The ultra-light glider was developed in 1984 and went into production in 1985 as the PW-2 Gapa.
  • SyMELator 2 The glider simulator was a project of the KNL in 2011. The cockpit of a pirate was used .
  • Sterowiec The project of a remote-controlled airship started in 2011 was discontinued due to problems with the hull.
  • SyMELator 4 This powered flight simulator is based on the Cessna 150 .
  • Wyciągarka paralotniowa tow winch for paragliders .
  • Szybowiec Akar The replica of the SL-1 AKAR glider from 1924 is the current project of the KNL.

literature

Rudolf H. Böttcher: An Akaflieg in Poland . In: Annual report 1979 of Akaflieg Karlsruhe. Karlsruhe 1980. pp. 19-21. JB 1979 (PDF; 5.5 MB)

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Rudolf H. Böttcher: An Akaflieg in Poland , see literature, p. 19
  2. ↑ Information on the KNL, accessed on November 15, 2016 History of the KNL .
  3. ↑ Information from the KNL, accessed on August 19, 2011 Simulator 2
  4. ↑ Information from the KNL, accessed on February 3, 2016 Sterowiec
  5. ↑ Information from the KNL, accessed on February 3, 2016 Simulator 4
  6. ↑ Information from the KNL, accessed on February 3, 2016 Wyciągarka paralotniowa
  7. ↑ KNL: Szybowiec Akar , accessed on November 14, 2016 Akar

Web links

Website of Koło Naukowe Lotników (Polish)