LWS-2

Last updated
LWS-2
LWS-2 in flight may 1938.jpg
The LWS-2 in flight, during an aircraft meeting in Poland (may 1938).
General information
Type Air ambulance
National originPoland
Manufacturer LWS
StatusPrototype
Primary userPoland
Number built1
History
Manufactured1937
Introduction dateMay 19, 1938
First flightAutumn 1937

The LWS-2 was the Polish air ambulance aircraft prototype, designed in the late-1930s in the LWS factory (Lublin Aircraft Factory).

Contents

Design and development

The LWS-2 was designed as a light ambulance aircraft, for a requirement of the Polish Air Force and the Polish Red Cross (PCK), which was operating military ambulances. A preliminary design was made in 1936 by Zbysław Ciołkosz, the main designer of the LWS factory, follower by Jerzy Teisseyre's detailed design. It was influenced by RWD-9 and RWD-13 planes of the RWD team, especially their wing construction with rich wing mechanization, that gave it STOL capabilities. The prototype was built using PCK funds. Aircraft was registered SP-ATP and flown in autumn of 1937.

The Polish Red Cross ordered six aircraft, but the LWS factory was busy at that time with military production (RWD-14 Czapla and LWS-3 Mewa), and they were not built by the outbreak of World War II. LWS's next design, the LWS-3 Mewa close reconnaissance plane, utilized many features of the LWS-2, and was generally similar.

Description

Mixed construction (steel and wood) braced high-wing monoplane, conventional in layout. Fuselage of a steel frame, canvas covered (engine part with duralumin). Two-spar straight wings of wooden construction, with slats, flaps and flaperons, covered with canvas and plywood (in front), rectangular with rounded tips and narrowing near the fuselage. The wings were supported with V-struts and were folding rearwards. Cantilever empennage, covered with plywood (stabilizers) and canvas (rudder and elevators). Conventional fixed landing gear, with a rear skid. Capacity of four in a closed cockpit: a pilot in front, a doctor behind him, and two lying on stretchers at the back. It had a 9-cylinder air-cooled Avia-built Wright Whirlwind J-5 radial engine delivering 220 hp (164 kW) nominal power and 240 hp (179 kW) take-off power. Two-blade metal propeller Ratier, of variable pitch. A 130-liter fuel tank behind the engine. Cruise fuel consumption 48 L/h.

Operational history

On May 19, 1938 the prototype was given to the Air Force. Between July 1 and July 4, 1938, the LWS-2 prototype took part in an International Ambulance Aircraft Contest in Esch in Luxembourg, and won first place and a cup for the best accommodation in a cab for the injured.

The prototype was later used by the Polish Red Cross. Its fate during the World War II is not clear, as the damaged plane was captured by the Germans on airfield at Krosno.

Operators

Flag of Poland.svg  Poland

Specifications (LWS-2)

Data from Polish aircraft 1893-1939, [1] Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893–1939 [2]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RWD 5</span>

The RWD 5 was a Polish touring and sports plane of 1931, a two-seat high-wing monoplane, constructed by the RWD team. It was made famous by its transatlantic flight, being the smallest aircraft to cross the Atlantic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RWD-14 Czapla</span>

The RWD-14 Czapla was a Polish army cooperation aircraft, designed in the mid-1930s by the RWD team, and produced in the LWS factory from 1938. A series of 65 aircraft were built and most were used by the Polish Air Force observation squadrons during World War II in 1939.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LWS-3 Mewa</span> Polish military aircraft

The LWS-3 Mewa ("Seagull") was a Polish observation and close reconnaissance aircraft, designed in the late-1930s by the LWS factory. It was ordered by the Polish Air Force, but did not manage to enter service before the outbreak of World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RWD 2</span>

The RWD 2 was a 1929 Polish single-engine high-wing monoplane sports plane constructed by the RWD team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RWD 3</span> Polish sports aircraft

The RWD 3 was a 1930 Polish sports aircraft and liaison aircraft prototype, constructed by the RWD team, a single-engine high-wing monoplane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RWD 1</span>

The RWD 1 was a Polish sports plane of 1928, a single-engine high-wing monoplane constructed by the RWD design team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RWD 10</span>

The RWD-10 was a Polish aerobatics sports plane, single-seat parasol wing monoplane, used from 1933 to 1939 and constructed by the RWD team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RWD 17</span>

The RWD 17 was a Polish aerobatics-trainer aircraft of 1937, parasol wing monoplane, constructed by the RWD team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RWD 13</span> Type of aircraft

The RWD 13 was a Polish touring plane of 1935, three-seater high-wing monoplane, designed by the RWD team. It was the biggest commercial success of the RWD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RWD 15</span> Type of aircraft

The RWD-15 was a Polish touring aircraft of 1937, designed by the RWD team and built by the Doświadczalne Warsztaty Lotnicze (DWL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PWS-19</span> Type of aircraft

The PWS-19 was a Polish reconnaissance and bomber plane prototype of the 1930s, constructed in the PWS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lublin R-XVI</span> Type of aircraft

The Lublin R-XVI was a Polish passenger and air ambulance aircraft, designed in the 1930s in the Plage i Laśkiewicz factory in Lublin and built in a small series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RWD 23</span> Type of aircraft

The RWD 23 was a Polish low-wing trainer aircraft of 1938, constructed by the RWD team, that remained a prototype.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RWD 16</span> Type of aircraft

The RWD-16 was a Polish two-seat low-wing sports plane of 1936, constructed by the RWD team, that remained a prototype.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lublin R-XII</span> Type of aircraft

The Lublin R-XII was the Polish three-seat sports and touring aircraft, designed in 1930 in the Plage i Laśkiewicz factory in Lublin, that remained a prototype.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RWD 21</span> Type of aircraft

The RWD 16bis and RWD 21 were Polish two-seat low-wing touring and sports planes of the late 1930s, constructed by the RWD bureau, sharing the same construction, main difference of the RWD 21 being a stronger engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lublin R-XI</span> Type of aircraft

The Lublin R-XI was the Polish passenger plane for 4 passengers, designed in 1930 in the Plage i Laśkiewicz factory in Lublin, that remained a prototype.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RWD-19</span> Type of aircraft

The RWD-19 was a Polish two-seat low-wing sports aircraft of 1938, constructed by the RWD bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PWS-6</span> Type of aircraft

The PWS-6, was a Polish liaison aircraft, developed in 1930 by the PWS, that remained a prototype.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PWS-11</span> Type of aircraft

The PWS-11 was a Polish aerobatic and trainer aircraft, developed in 1928-1929 by PWS, which remained a prototype.

References

  1. Cynk, Jerzy B (1971). Polish aircraft 1893-1939. Putnam. pp.  331-333. ISBN   0-370-00085-4.
  2. Glass, Andrzej (1977). Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893–1939 (in Polish). Warsaw: WKiŁ. pp. 169–170.