RWD-17
The
RWD-17 was a
Polish aerobatics-
trainer aircraft of
1937, constructed by the
RWD team.
 |
RWD-17W prototype |
The aircraft was designed as an interim
trainer aircraft between primary trainer
RWD-8 and single-seater aircraft, demanding higher skills, like
RWD-10. It was also fitted to
aerobatics. The construction of the new plane was similar to the RWD-8, but almost all parts were newly designed. The works started in
1936 and the main designer was
Bronisław Żurakowski of the
RWD bureau. The first prototype (registration SP-BMX) was flown in August
1937. After state trials in 1937, it was accepted for production, and in
1938 there was produced a short series of
RWD-17 (according to a Polish registry, there were 23 serial RWD-17, carrying registrations SP: -BNZ, BOA-BOJ, BOL-BOZ).
In early 1938, there was designed a
floatplane variant
RWD-17W, differing among others in a stronger
radial engine Bramo Sh-14a 160 hp. It had interchangeable floats or land undercarriage. When on floats, a bigger tailfin was mounted. The prototype was flown with land undercarriage in June 1938, then tested on floats. Next, there were ordered 5 RWD-17Ws for the Polish Naval Aviation Squadron (
MDLot) in
Puck as trainers. They were built in 1939.
In early 1939 there was developed a new wing for the RWD-17, with thinner profile and narrowing wingtips. It gave better aerobatics capability. Because of problems with its counterpart
PWS-35, the
Polish Air Force got interested in the modified RWD-17 as a successor of the
PWS-26 intermediate trainer. There were plans to order 50-120 aircraft, with a likely designation
RWD-17bis, but they were not built due to outbreak of the war.
RWD-17 were used in Polish civilian aviation - in aeroclubs and an aviation school in
Swidnik before the
World War II. During the
Polish September Campaign 1939, 8 of them, including a prototype, were evacuated to
Romania. Reportedly, 2 were evacuated to Latvia. One RWD-17 was used by the 56th Observation Escadre as a liaison plane, it crashed on September 12.
Apart from the prototype RWD-17W, carrying civilian registration SP-BPB, there were produced 5 RWD-17W floatplanes, but none were delivered to the Polish Naval Aviation Squadron before the war. The prototype was kept camouflaged in forest on
Hel Peninsula during its siege. It was crashed in the sea near peninsula on August 30, due to an engine fault, during an attempt to evacuate to
Sweden (the crew was saved). Three other RWD-17W, being in a factory in Warsaw, with land undercarriage, were evacuated to Romania, while remaining two were used as liaison planes.
In Romania RWD-17s were used until late 1940s. None returned to Poland after the war, and none have survived to today.
Mixed construction (steel and wood) trainer plane, conventional in layout, with braced high-wings, canvas and plywood covered, with open cockpit. Crew of two, sitting in
tandem, with twin controls. RWD-17 had 4 cylinder air-cooled
inline engine PZInż. Junior 4 (licence built
Walter Junior 4), 120 hp power and 130 hp take-off power. RWD-17W had 7-cylinder radial engine Bramo Sh-14a, 160 hp take-off power. Two-blade wooden propeller. Conventional
landing gear, with a rear wheel, or floats (RWD-17W). Fuel tank in a fuselage: 111 l.
General characteristics
*
Crew: Two - student and instructor
*
Length: 7.7 m ( ft in)
*
Wingspan: 10.0 m ( ft in)
*
Height: 2.45 m (ft in)
*
Wing area: 18.70 m² ( ft²)
*
Empty: 520 kg (lb)
*
Loaded: 760 kg ( lb)
*
Maximum takeoff: 810 kg ( lb)
*
Powerplant: 1x
PZInż. Junior 4, 130 hp
Performance
*
Maximum speed: 195 km/h ( mph)
*
Range: 680 km ( miles)
*
Service ceiling: 5,000 m ( ft)
*
Rate of climb: 4.5 m/s ( ft/min)
*
Wing loading: 40.5 kg/m² (lb/ft²)
*
Power/Mass: kW/kg, hp/lb
*Poland, Romania.
Related Development: RWD-8 -
RWD-10Comparable Aircraft: Designation Sequence:RWD-14 -
RWD-15 -
RWD-16 -
RWD-17 -
RWD-18 -
RWD-19 -
RWD-20
