The Żak (old-fashioned "student") was designed in the Lotnicze Warsztaty Doświadczalne (LWD, Aviation Experimental Workshops) in Łódź, directed by Tadeusz Sołtyk in 1946, as one of the first Polish post-war aircraft. It was a light low-wing cantilever monoplane of a mixed construction, with a crew of two, sitting side by side, and fixed conventional landing gear. The first prototype Żak-1 was first flown on March 23, 1947. It was powered by the Czechoslovak 65 hp straight engine Walter Mikron III and carried markings SP-AAC. The second prototype Żak-2 was powered by the 65 hp flat engine Continental A-65 and had an open cockpit. It was flown on November 27, 1947, and carried markings SP-AAE.
The design appeared successful and the Ministry of Communication ordered a series of 10 aircraft. They were to be powered by licence-built A-65 engines, but since plans of engine production were abandoned, it was decided to fit them with Walter Mikron engines. They were also fitted with a closed canopy, sliding rearwards, and named Żak-3. Ten planes were built by the LWD in the end of 1948, the first of them was flown on November 8, 1948. They had markings: SP-AAS to SP-AAZ, and SP-BAA to SP-BAC. At least one (SP-AAX) had engine replaced later with 85 hp (63 kW) Cirrus F.III. They were used in the Polish regional aero clubs until 1955.
On October 20, 1948, there was flown a prototype of the last variant, Żak-4, meant for a glider towing. It had stronger 105 hp Walter engine and an open canopy. Since it showed unsuitable for glider towing, and old Polikarpov Po-2 appeared the better plane for this purpose, Żak-4 was not built in series, and the prototype was re-fitted with a closed canopy and used as a touring plane in aero club (markings SP-BAE).
Babiejczuk, Janusz and Grzegorzewski, Jerzy: Polski przemysł lotniczy 1945-1973 (Polish aviation industry...), Wydawnictwo MON, Warsaw 1974 (in Polish)
Bridgman, Leonard. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1953-54. London:Jane's,1953.
Krzyżan, Marian: Samoloty w muzeach polskich, Warsaw 1983, ISBN978-83-206-0432-0(in Polish)
at Poser page (in Polish)
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to LWD Żak.
Photos at Ugolok Neba page
April 08, 2024
Żak, polish, touring, trainer, aircraft, late, 1940s, designed, built, short, series, role, touring, trainer, aircraftmanufacturer, lwddesigner, tadeusz, sołtykfirst, flight, march, 1947introduction, 1947retired, 1955primary, user, polish, civilian, aviationpr. The LWD Zak was a Polish touring and trainer aircraft of the late 1940s designed in the LWD and built in a short series LWD ZakRole Touring and trainer aircraftManufacturer LWDDesigner Tadeusz SoltykFirst flight 23 March 1947Introduction 1947Retired 1955Primary user Polish civilian aviationProduced 1947 1948Number built 13 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Variants 3 Operators 4 Survivors 5 Specifications Zak 3 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksDesign and development editThe Zak old fashioned student was designed in the Lotnicze Warsztaty Doswiadczalne LWD Aviation Experimental Workshops in Lodz directed by Tadeusz Soltyk in 1946 as one of the first Polish post war aircraft It was a light low wing cantilever monoplane of a mixed construction with a crew of two sitting side by side and fixed conventional landing gear The first prototype Zak 1 was first flown on March 23 1947 It was powered by the Czechoslovak 65 hp straight engine Walter Mikron III and carried markings SP AAC The second prototype Zak 2 was powered by the 65 hp flat engine Continental A 65 and had an open cockpit It was flown on November 27 1947 and carried markings SP AAE The design appeared successful and the Ministry of Communication ordered a series of 10 aircraft They were to be powered by licence built A 65 engines but since plans of engine production were abandoned it was decided to fit them with Walter Mikron engines They were also fitted with a closed canopy sliding rearwards and named Zak 3 Ten planes were built by the LWD in the end of 1948 the first of them was flown on November 8 1948 They had markings SP AAS to SP AAZ and SP BAA to SP BAC At least one SP AAX had engine replaced later with 85 hp 63 kW Cirrus F III They were used in the Polish regional aero clubs until 1955 On October 20 1948 there was flown a prototype of the last variant Zak 4 meant for a glider towing It had stronger 105 hp Walter engine and an open canopy Since it showed unsuitable for glider towing and old Polikarpov Po 2 appeared the better plane for this purpose Zak 4 was not built in series and the prototype was re fitted with a closed canopy and used as a touring plane in aero club markings SP BAE Variants editZak 1 SP AAC The first prototype powered by Walter Mikron III engine Zak 2 SP AAE The second prototype without canopy and powered by Continental A 65 engine Zak 3 Main production version with closed canopy and powered by Walter Mikron III engine 10 built Zak 4 SP BAE Prototype of the glider towing version with open canopy later refitted with a closed one and powered by Walter engine Operators edit nbsp PolandAeroklub PolskiSurvivors editZak 3 SP AAX is preserved in the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow disassembled as for 2007 Specifications Zak 3 editData from Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1953 54 1 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 7 60 m 24 ft 11 in Wingspan 11 80 m 38 ft 9 in Height 1 95 m 6 ft 5 in Wing area 17 0 m2 183 sq ft Empty weight 400 kg 882 lb Gross weight 620 kg 1 367 lb Powerplant 1 Walter Mikron III air cooled 4 cylinder straight engine 48 kW 65 hp Performance Maximum speed 160 km h 99 mph 86 kn Cruise speed 130 km h 81 mph 70 kn Stall speed 62 km h 39 mph 33 kn Range 400 km 250 mi 220 nmi Service ceiling 3 500 m 11 500 ft Rate of climb 2 7 m s 530 ft min See also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Bucker Bu 181 RWD 21 Zlin Z 22 JunakReferences edit Bridgman 1953 p 173 Babiejczuk Janusz and Grzegorzewski Jerzy Polski przemysl lotniczy 1945 1973 Polish aviation industry Wydawnictwo MON Warsaw 1974 in Polish Bridgman Leonard Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1953 54 London Jane s 1953 Krzyzan Marian Samoloty w muzeach polskich Warsaw 1983 ISBN 978 83 206 0432 0 in Polish Photo and description at Poser page in Polish External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to LWD Zak Photos at Ugolok Neba page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title LWD Zak amp oldid 1073243611, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
