RWD-13A fost un avion de distanță scurtă din 1935, trei locuri, aripă mare, monoplan, proiectat de echipa RWD. A fost cel mai mare succes comercial RWD.
Despre RWD-13 – Sursa Wikipedia
Role: Cruise plane
Origin: Polonia
Maker: Polonia și Rogozarski Iugoslavia
Designer: RWD
First flight 15th January 1935
Introduction 1935
First users: Polonia, Iugoslavia, România, Brazilia, Israel
Produced 1935-1939
Number of aircrafts built: Aprox. 100
Developed RWD-6
Specificatii (RDW-13)
Informatii din Glass, A. (1977)
General characteristics
Crew: Un pilot
Capacity Doi pasageri
Length: 7.85 m (25 ft 9 in)
Bearing surface: 11.50 m (37 ft 8 in)
Height: 2.05 m (6 ft 8 in)
Bearing surface: 16.00 m² (172 ft²)
Empty weight: 530 kg (1,166 lb)
Load weight: 890 kg (1,958 lb)
Maximum take-off weight<: 930 kg (2,046 lb)
Motopropulsor group: 1 × PZInż Walter Major air-cooled 4-cylinder inline engine, 130 hp (96 kW)
Performanță
Full speed: 210 km/h (113 knots, 130 mph)
Cruise speed: 180 km/h
Range: 900 km (486 nm, 600 mi)
Service ceiling: 4,200 m (13,776 ft)
Rate of climb: 3.8 m/s (748 ft/min)
Wing loading: 55.5 kg/m² (11.35 lb/ft²)
Development
The RWD-13 was a touring aircraft, designed on a line of sport aircraft RWD-6 (winner of the International Air Touring Competition, 1932 season) and RWD-9 (winner of the Challenge 1934). It was designed by Stanisław Rogalski and Jerzy Drzewiecki of the RWD team, in the DWL (Doświadczalne Warsztaty Lotnicze) workshop in Warsaw, for the paramilitary organization LOPP. The prototype was built using parts from a crashed RWD-6 (the RWD-6bis design was not originally intended to be used, however), but its construction was similar to the new RWD-9 model. First flew in January 1935 (registered as SP-AOA). Since the RWD-13 was not intended to be a competition aircraft, the main differences of the RWD-9 were: inline engine with low generating power, instead of a radial engine, and with simple wing mechanization. However, it has advantages, such as short take-off and easy to pilot with good stability. 85 were produced in 1939.
In 1937, a variant air ambulance was built RWD-13S (prototype marked SP-BFN), with a starboard stretcher hatch in the fuselage. A similar universal variant was also designed RWD-13TS (or ST or S/T), it could be converted from a tourist plane to an ambulance by removing its right-hand seat. By 1939, 15 RWD-13S were made, including several RWD-13TS. A development of the RWD-13 was the 5-seater RWD-15. A license was sold to Yugoslavia in 1938, making four RWD-13s and two RWD-13S produced in 1939 by Rogožarski. All 4 RWD-13s were converted to ambulance aircraft. A replica of the RWD-13 is still under construction in Poland (as of 2008).
In 1937, an air ambulance version RWD-13S (prototype marked SP-BFN) was built, with a starboard hatch for stretchers in the fuselage. A similar universal variant RWD-13TS (or ST or S/T) was also designed, this could be converted from a tourist plane to an ambulance by removing the right side seat. By 1939, 15 RWD-13S were made, including several RWD-13TS. A development of the RWD-13 was the 5-seater RWD-15. A license was sold to Yugoslavia in 1938, making four RWD-13s and two RWD-13S produced in 1939 by Rogožarski. All 4 RWD-13s were converted to ambulance aircraft. A replica of the RWD-13 is still under construction in Poland (as of 2008)
Design
3-seater sports touring monoplane with large wing and mixed construction. Fuselage from a metal frame, covered with cloth, and the engine section with aluminum sheets. A wooden wing with two rectangular flaps covered in front with canvas and plate. The wings are folded back and equipped with automatic flaps. Cantilevered, plywood covered (stabilizers) and canvas (rudders and elevators). Closed cabin with three seats: two front seats equipped with double control, behind them the third seat and a space for luggage. The cabin had a pair of doors. In the RWD-13S there were two seats on the left side and stretchers on the right side. The single front engine, 130 hp Walter Major 4, PZInż had 4 cylinders provided for cooling. Major (licensed Walter Major), or de Havilland Gipsy Major. The propeller was made of two fixed Szomański wooden blades. The landing gear was conventional with rear skids. The fuel tank was in the wings and had a capacity of 140 L. The consumption level of the plane was 28 L/hour.
Operational history
Polonia
Most RWD-13S were used by Polish civil aviation, initially by the Polish Aero Club (funded by the Ministry of Communications or LOPP paramilitary organization – Air and Anti-Gas Defense League). Three were used by the Ministry of Communications as utility aircraft, two were used by LOT Polish Airlines and many were in the hands of private owners and companies. The Polish Aero Club aircraft was also used in sports aviation, taking part in numerous competitions and rallies, winning important prizes. Among others, they took first, fourth, sixth, and seventh place with a touring airplane in a competition during the Fourth International Air Meeting in Zurich in 1937. The RWD-13S wins an award in the city of Esch for the best air ambulance in the International Air Ambulance Competition in Esch, Luxembourg in July 1938 (the competition was won by another Polish aircraft, the LWS-2).
Most RWD-13S air ambulances belonged to the Polish Red Cross, five to the Polish Air Force, but they also performed civilian activities. Many (at least five) RWD-13s, not including air ambulances, were mobilized after the start of WWII and are used as liaison aircraft during the Polish September Campaign. A few planes were evacuated to neighboring countries, a few were destroyed or confiscated by the Germans. Most Polish RWD-13s were painted red with a silver lightning bolt painted on the fuselage and wings, while RWD-13TS were painted ivory with a red lightning bolt on the fuselage
Only four RWD-13s were used in Poland after the war, being returned by Romania in 1947 (in 1948 the Polish communist government lost interest in all pre-war Polish equipment remaining abroad). These were used until 1953-1955, with the registrations: SP-MSZ (owned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MSZ for short), SP-ARG, SP-ARH, SP-ARL. SP-ARL is currently housed in the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków with its pre-war registration SP-BNU (used before LOT, Polish Air Lines).
Spain
Around 20 RWD-13s were exported before the Second World War. Four were sold to Spain and used as liaison aircraft by Franco's Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War under the name Polaca (numbers: 30-1 – 30-4). After the Civil War, the remaining ones were used in Aero clubs.
Brasil
In 1937-1938, eight RWD-13s were sold to Brazil and used until 1960. One of them is still in flying condition (PT-LFY)
Palestina/Israel
Two or three RWD-13s were sold to Jewish owners in Palestine. With the establishment of the Sherut Avir - the air force of the Haganah, two machines were included in the inventory in November 1947. On December 17, 1947, one of them took the first air attack, with hand grenades and pistols, during the Israeli-Arab disputes ( earlier, on June 15, 1936, a RWD-13 was the first plane to land in Tel Aviv). The two new RWD-13s were among the first aircraft of the Israeli Air Force, and were used to provide transport links during the second Arab-Israeli War in 1948.
Romania
After the outbreak of World War II, 28 Polish RWD-13s were evacuated to Romania (23 RWD-13s and 5 RWD-13S). After the fall of Poland, they were taken over by the Romanian civil and military aviation. After Romania joined the war on the side of the Axis, taking part in the attack on the USSR, the RWD-13 was used as a liaison plane by the Air Force. The most famous were the air ambulances, used by the "White Squadron", piloted by women. 21 survived the war and the remaining ones were used in Romania until the 1950s.
Other countries
Only one aircraft was used in Estonia. Two RWD-13s, sent to the World's Fair, were sold after the outbreak of war in 1939 and used in the United States of America (N20651 and N20652), their structure was modified by Lt. Joseph Malejki. Three aircraft (or one) were sold to Yemen. Several RWD-13s were evacuated to Latvia and were probably later seized by the Soviets.
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