The PZL Bielsko SZD-50 ''Puchacz'' (Polish: "

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") is a Polish two-place training and aerobatic

sailplane A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the leisure activity and sport of gliding (also called soaring). This unpowered aircraft can use naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to gain altitude. Sailplan ...

Development

The Puchacz was designed by Dipl-Ing Adam Meus based on the prototype SZD-50-1 Dromader. It was intended to serve as the successor to the popular Bocian for training. Its first flight was April 13, 1979. Being a moderately-priced, versatile, modern two-seater with good handling qualities on the ground and in the air, the Puchacz has become a very popular two-seater sailplane in many countries both for ''ab-initio'' and aerobatic instruction. A large number of fatal accidents involving

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have occurred with the Puchacz.ASN Aviation Safety Database
/ref> Investigations have failed to uncover a common design flaw, but the type's reputation has nevertheless been tainted. Its supporters point out that it was designed to obey faithfully all control inputs - including foolish ones. Partial failures at the rudder bar and control sticks have been known to occur, but Airworthiness Directives have been issued for modifications.

Description

The Puchacz is a construction protected by

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paint rather than the more usual

gelcoat Gelcoat, also called Gel Coat, is a material used to provide a high-quality finish on the visible surface of a fibre-reinforced composite. The most common gelcoats are thermosetting polymers based on epoxy or unsaturated polyester resin chemistry. ...

finish. Although it is mainly glassfibre, the

fuselage The fuselage (; from the French ''fuselé'' "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section. It holds crew, passengers, or cargo. In single-engine aircraft, it will usually contain an engine as well, although in some amphibious aircraft t ...

has two wooden frames as the connection point for the wings and undercarriage. Assembly entails inserting a single main pin to secure the wings in place and a spring-loaded locking pin for the tailplane. The air brakes open above and below the wings and are extremely efficient in comparison with other gliders, allowing very steep flight. It has a tandem seating arrangement for the two occupants with the front seat used for solo flights. The front rudder pedals and the rear seat shell are adjustable. The front instruments are arranged so that they can be easily viewed from the rear seat; a rear instruments panel is also available as an option. The Puchacz meets both OSTIV and JAR-22 Utility Category certification requirements and is approved for extended aerobatics including inverted flight and rolling manoeuvres.

Variants

;SZD-50-1 Dromader: The initial design and prototype of the Puchacz series, first flown on 21 December 1976; two built. ;SZD-50-2 Puchacz: Initial production variant first flown on 13 April 1979. ;SZD-50-3 Puchacz: Later production standard with fin mounted higher, enlarged rudder and main-wheel fairing.

Specifications (SZD-50-3)

References

External links

Geelong Club website

Richard Johnson, A FTE of the SZD-50-3 Puchacz 2-Place Sailplane, Soaring, April 1994Sailplane Directory

Type Certificate EASA
{{Polish gliders 1970s Polish sailplanes SZD50 Cruciform tail aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1979 SZD aircraft Forward-swept-wing aircraft Shoulder-wing aircraft