SZD-35 Bekas

Last updated

SZD-35 Bekas
Role Glider
National origin Poland
DesignerT. Łabuć and J. Niespał
First flight29 November 1970
Number built2
Developed from PZL Bielsko SZD-34 Bocian 3

The SZD-35 Bekas (Snipe) is a two-seater glider aircraft that was designed and built in Poland. [1]

Contents

Development

The SZD-35 Bekas is a direct development of the SZD-34 Bocian 3, a modernised Bocian with T-tail and refined aerodynamics, design of which had been completed by engineer George Kubalańca, but further design work led to the SZD-35 Bekas for export to the DDR (the former East Germany), and the abandonment of the SZD-34. [1]

To complement the SZD-30 Pirat gliders purchased by the DDR, the design team at SZD developed the SZD-35 Bekas specifically to fill the requirements of the DDR aero-clubs, with all-wood structure. The Bekas was also designed to comply with portions of the British BCAR airworthiness requirements. [1]

Two flying prototypes were built (SP-2553 and SP-2557) and a third for static testing. Flight tests commenced on 29 November 1970, flown by Adam Zientek. The second prototype first flew in March 1971 culminating in a destructive test of the undercarriage with the aircraft undergoing progressively harsh landings until damage occurred. Modifications to the structure were introduced after these tests to increase strength and reduce weight. The Bekas had safe handling and high spin resistance, but suffered from high cockpit sills, which hampered boarding and limited headroom due to the low canopy. [1]

To comply with the DDR requirements the structure of the Bekas was primarily of wood with plywood skinning except for a small percentage of the wing surface. The undercarriage consisted of a sprung monowheel, set well forward of the centre of gravity, and tail-skid, which improved stability on the ground roll during winch launching but raised the cockpit sill hampering boarding the aircraft. [1]

The DDR cancelled their order and production was cancelled. The two Bekas prototypes have survived, with one in the Aeroclub Gliwice museum and the other at the Rzeszów Aeroclub. [1]

Specifications (SZD-35 Bekas)

Data from Piechowski [1]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related Research Articles

PZL Bielsko SZD-50 Puchacz

The PZL Bielsko SZD-50 Puchacz is a Polish two-place training and aerobatic sailplane.

PZL SZD-30 Pirat Polish single-seat glider, 1966

The SZD-30 Pirat is a single-seat multi-purpose glider aircraft from the Polish firm PZL Bielsko, which first flew in 1966 and began to be produced in 1967.

SZD-45 Ogar Polish two-seat motor-glider, 1973

The SZD-45 Ogar (Hound) is a T-tailed cantilever high-wing monoplane of wooden, aluminium and fibreglass construction designed and manufactured in Poland.

SZD-9 Bocian Polish two-seat glider, 1953

The SZD-9 Bocian is a multi-purpose two-seat sailplane that was designed and built in Poland at Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny in Bielsko-Biała, beginning in 1952. It was designed to be capable of fulfilling the needs of every area from training to competition flying.

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.

SZD-6X Nietoperz Polish single-seat tail-less research glider, 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.

SZD-10 Czapla Polish two-seat training glider, 1953

The SZD-10 Czapla was a two-seat training glider aircraft that was designed and built in Poland from 1953.

SZD-12 Mucha 100 Polish single-seat glider, 1953

The SZD-12 Mucha 100 was a single-seat glider aircraft that was designed and built in Poland from 1953.

SZD-15 Sroka Polish single-seat glider, 1956

The SZD-15 Sroka was a single-seat glider designed and built in Poland in 1956.

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.

SZD-18 Czajka Polish single-seat glider, 1956

The SZD-18 Czajka was a single-seat glider designed and built in Poland in 1956.

SZD-19 Zefir Polish single-seat glider, 1958

The SZD-19 Zefir is a single-seat glider aircraft that was designed and built in Poland from 1957.

SZD-24 Foka Polish single-seat glider, 1960

The SZD-24 Foka (Seal) was a single-seat high-performance aerobatic glider designed and built in Poland in 1960.

SZD-27 Polish two-seat glider, 1965

The SZD-27 Kormoran (Cormorant) was a two-seat glider designed in Poland from 1961.

The SZD-28 was a research glider designed in Poland from 1960.

SZD-38 Jantar 1 Polish single-seat glider, 1972

The SZD-38 Jantar 1 (Amber) is a glider designed and produced in Poland from 1971.

IS-4 Jastrząb

The IS-4 Jastrząb was a single-seat aerobatic glider designed and built in Poland from 1949.

IS-2 Mucha Polish single-seat training glider, 1948

The IS-2 Mucha was a single-seat training glider designed and built in Poland starting in 1947.

SZD-51 Junior

The PZL Bielsko SZD-51 Junior is a Polish single-seat training and club sailplane.

SZD-42 Jantar 2

The SZD-42 Jantar 2 is a single seat Open Class competition glider, designed and produced in Poland in the 1970s. It features a span of over 20 m (66 ft) and elastic, camber changing flaps. It was placed second, third and seventh at the 1976 World Gliding Championships. Over one hundred were built and more than ninety remain registered.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Piechowski, Piotr. "SZD-35 Bekas (Polish language)" . Retrieved 28 August 2009.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.