| SZD-15 Sroka | |
|---|---|
 | |
| SZD-15A Sroka in the Polish Aviation Museum | |
| Role | Glider aircraft |
| National origin | Poland |
| Manufacturer | ZSLS Nr. 5 Krosno |
| Designer | Zbigniew Badura |
| First flight | 25 February 1956 |
| Retired | 1970s |
| Primary user | Polish Aero Club |
| Number built | 22 |
| Developed from | IS-B Komar |
The SZD-15 Sroka ( Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny - Glider Experimental Works) was a single-seat glider designed and built in Poland in 1956.
The SZD-15 Sroka (Magpie) was designed as a replacement for the IS-B Komar in the single-seat trainer role, at the request of the LPŻ (Soldier's Friends League) from 1955. Of typical wooden construction with plywood or fabric covering, the SZD-15 Sroka was typical of many contemporary club training gliders throughout Europe. The main designer on the project was Z. Badura. [1]
The first prototype, named 'Pionier' (registration SP-1598) was flown on 25 February 1956 by Stanisław Skrzydlewski at Bielsko, leading to modifications to improve the room in the cockpit, re-position the winch launch hook to increase directional stability during winch launching, and to increase the strength of the forward fuselage. Further improvements were made to the second prototype, SZD-15-2 Sroka (registration SP-1667), which flew on 1 February 1957. [1] Production aircraft were designated SZD-15A, and 20 were built in ZSLS in Krosno, in addition to the two prototypes.
The flying characteristics of the SZD-15A were a marked improvement on those of the IS-B Komar, including better climb performance in weak thermals. The solo training regime employed by Polish Aero Clubs up to the late 1950s was eventually proven to be inefficient, thus the 'raison d'etre' of the SZD-15 Sroka was removed, and the remaining SZD-15s were used as club single seaters until superseded by higher performance club aircraft in the mid-1970s. Two, including the first prototype, are preserved in the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków. [2]
Data from http://www.piotrp.de/SZYBOWCE/pszd15.htm
General characteristics
Performance
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
The SZD-21 Kobuz was a single-seat aerobatic glider designed and built in Poland at Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny in Bielsko-Biała from 1958.
The SZD-8 Jaskółka was a single-seat glider aircraft that was designed and built in Poland at Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny in Bielsko-Biała from 1951.
The SZD-6x Nietoperz was a single-seat tail-less experimental glider aircraft that was designed and built in Poland at Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny in Bielsko-Biała in 1951. Only one example was constructed.
The SZD-7 Osa was a single-seat developmental glider aircraft that was designed and built in Poland at Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny in Bielsko-Biała in 1950. Only one example was built.
The SZD-10 Czapla was a two-seat training glider aircraft that was designed and built in Poland from 1953.
The SZD-11 Albatros was a single-seat glider aircraft that was designed and built in Poland at Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny - Glider Experimental Works in Bielsko-Biała in 1954. Only one prototype was completed and flown.
The SZD-12 Mucha 100 was a single-seat glider aircraft that was designed and built in Poland from 1953.
The SZD-14X Jaskółka M was a single-seat glider designed and built in Poland at Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny - Glider Experimental Works in Bielsko-Biała in 1954. This was an experimental prototype, and only one unit was constructed.
The SZD-25A Lis was a single-seat glider aircraft that was designed and built in Poland from 1955, derived from the SZD-16 Gil and SZD-25 Nov.
The SZD-17X Jaskółka L was a single-seat high-performance competition glider designed and built in Poland at Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny in Bielsko-Biała in 1955.
The SZD-18 Czajka was a single-seat glider designed and built in Poland in 1956.
The SZD-22 Mucha Standard was a single-seat aerobatic glider designed and built in Poland from 1957.
The SZD-28 was a research glider designed in Poland from 1960.
The SZD-38 Jantar 1 (Amber) is a glider designed and produced in Poland from 1971.
The SZD-41 Jantar Standard was a Standard Class glider designed and produced in Poland from 1973.
The SZD-49 Jantar K was a 15m Class glider designed and built in Poland in 1977.
The SZD-C Żuraw, also designated as IS-C is a two-seat training and aerobatic glider aircraft, built in Poland from 1952, a copy of the German DFS Kranich II.
The WWS-3 Delphin (Dolphin) was a single-seat glider designed and built in Poland from 1936.
The IS-3 ABC was a single-seat training glider designed and built in Poland from 1947.
The IS-2 Mucha was a single-seat training glider designed and built in Poland starting in 1947.
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to SZD-15 Sroka . |