The PZL.48 was a development of the heavy fighter-bomber PZL.38 Wilk, designed by Franciszek Misztal. Owing to problems with PZL.38's PZL Foka V8 engines and the excessive weight of the prototype it was decided in 1938 to build a variant of the plane using more powerful radial engines, named PZL.48 Lampart. Despite the new plane appearing almost identical to the PZL.38, apart from the engines, it was, in fact, redesigned in order to decrease weight. French 640 hp Gnome-Rhône 14M engines of small diameter were chosen.
Building of a prototype started in 1939, but by summer 1939 only a wing had been made, while the fuselage was still under construction. It was planned to carry out static trials in Autumn 1939 and to fly the prototype in the first half of 1940. Further plans were to produce 110 Lamparts for the Polish Air Force in 1941. Owing to the German invasion on 1 September 1939, all plans were cancelled.
In early 1939 Misztal also worked out the initial design of the PZL.54 Ryś - a development of the PZL.48 with Hispano-Suiza 12L in-line engines.
It was a twin-engine low-wing cantilever monoplane of metal construction, metal covered. The fuselage was semi-monocoque, elliptic in cross-section. The crew of two - pilot and rear gunner/bombardier/observer - sat under separate canopies, far from each other, fitted with dual controls. The canopy of the pilot's cockpit opened sideways. Three part wing, outer parts built around light closed profiles. Wings fitted with slats and split flaps. Twin vertical stabilizers. Engines in underwing nacelles with NACA covers. Retractable landing gear, with main wheels retracting into engine nacelles, and a rear skid. Three-blade variable-pitch propellers. Integral fuel tanks in wings. Armament (planned): two fixed 20 mm guns and two 7.92 mm PWU wz.36 machine guns in the fuselage nose, twin 7.92 mm PWU wz.37 machine guns of a rear gunner, hiding in the fuselage (Lampart A) or 8 fixed machine guns (Lampart B). It could carry 300-kg of bombs.
The PZL.54 Ryś (lynx) was a pre-war Polishheavy fighter design developed in 1939 by the PZL company. Although intended as an evolution (and a replacement of) the PZL.48 Lampart, it never went beyond drawing boards due to Invasion of Poland and the outbreak of World War II. The aircraft was to be equipped with more powerful Hispano Suiza12Z inline engines, and was slated to become one of the basic fighter-bombers of the Polish Army. Heavier than its predecessors due to larger and heavier engine, the PZL.54 was to be faster, feature a higher bombload (with heavier 500 kg bombs mounted under the fuselage) and operational range. While primarily designed as a heavy fighter, thanks to its strong armament the aircraft was to be also suitable as a bomber or fighter-bomber.
The aircraft was to be an all-metal (duraluminium) low-wing monoplane, with a classic retractable landing gear and a fixed tail wheel. The aerodynamic profile was based on the highly successful PZL.37 Łoś bomber, including the double tail fins. The aircraft was to be armed with six 7.9 mm machine guns (3 in each wing), two 20mm cannon (in the nose) and twin 7.9 mm MGs in the rear gunner's station. In addition, the aircraft was to be able to deliver a single 500 kg aerial bomb mounted below the fuselage - or a collection of smaller bombs.
The construction of the first prototype was stopped by the outbreak of the Polish Defensive War. While the design looked promising, the PZL.54 was based around the new Hispano-Suiza engines that at the time were still under development and could deliver only 1000 out of planned 1600 horsepower.
Referencesedit
Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" (Polish aviation constructions 1893-1939), WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 (Polish language, no ISBN)
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The PZL 48 Lampart leopard was a Polish heavy fighter bomber design that remained only a project owing to the outbreak of World War II PZL 48 LampartRole Fighter bomber aircraftManufacturer Panstwowe Zaklady LotniczeStatus ProjectPrimary user Polish Air Force planned Number built Incomplete prototypeDeveloped from PZL 38 WilkVariants PZL 54 Rys Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operators planned 3 Specification 4 Specifications 5 PZL 54 Rys 6 References 7 See alsoDesign and development editThe PZL 48 was a development of the heavy fighter bomber PZL 38 Wilk designed by Franciszek Misztal Owing to problems with PZL 38 s PZL Foka V8 engines and the excessive weight of the prototype it was decided in 1938 to build a variant of the plane using more powerful radial engines named PZL 48 Lampart Despite the new plane appearing almost identical to the PZL 38 apart from the engines it was in fact redesigned in order to decrease weight French 640 hp Gnome Rhone 14M engines of small diameter were chosen Building of a prototype started in 1939 but by summer 1939 only a wing had been made while the fuselage was still under construction It was planned to carry out static trials in Autumn 1939 and to fly the prototype in the first half of 1940 Further plans were to produce 110 Lamparts for the Polish Air Force in 1941 Owing to the German invasion on 1 September 1939 all plans were cancelled In early 1939 Misztal also worked out the initial design of the PZL 54 Rys a development of the PZL 48 with Hispano Suiza 12L in line engines Operators planned edit nbsp PolandPolish Air ForceSpecification editIt was a twin engine low wing cantilever monoplane of metal construction metal covered The fuselage was semi monocoque elliptic in cross section The crew of two pilot and rear gunner bombardier observer sat under separate canopies far from each other fitted with dual controls The canopy of the pilot s cockpit opened sideways Three part wing outer parts built around light closed profiles Wings fitted with slats and split flaps Twin vertical stabilizers Engines in underwing nacelles with NACA covers Retractable landing gear with main wheels retracting into engine nacelles and a rear skid Three blade variable pitch propellers Integral fuel tanks in wings Armament planned two fixed 20 mm guns and two 7 92 mm PWU wz 36 machine guns in the fuselage nose twin 7 92 mm PWU wz 37 machine guns of a rear gunner hiding in the fuselage Lampart A or 8 fixed machine guns Lampart B It could carry 300 kg of bombs Specifications editGeneral characteristics Crew 2 pilot rear gunner bombardier Capacity 1 100 kg 2 425 08 lb useful load Length 8 7 m 28 ft 7 in Wingspan 11 5 m 37 ft 9 in Height 2 5 m 8 ft 2 in Wing area 21 5 m2 231 sq ft Empty weight 2 400 kg 5 291 lb Gross weight 3 500 kg 7 716 lb Powerplant 2 Gnome Rhone 14M 07 14 cyl air cooled two row radial engines 540 kW 730 hp eachPerformance Maximum speed 560 km h 350 mph 300 kn Range 1 500 km 930 mi 810 nmi Service ceiling 10 000 m 33 000 ft Rate of climb 9 m s 1 800 ft min Wing loading 154 kg m2 32 lb sq ft Armament 2 x 20 mm 0 787 in Nkm wz 38 FK cannon fixed in nose 2 x 7 92 mm 0 312 in PWU wz 36 machine guns fixed in nose 2 x 7 92 mm 0 312 in PWU wz 37 machine guns on a flexible mounting to the rear 300 kg 661 39 lb of bombsPZL 54 Rys editPZL 54 RysRole Fighter bomber aircraftManufacturer Panstwowe Zaklady LotniczeStatus ProjectPrimary user Polish Air Force planned Produced Number built Developed from PZL 48 LampartThe PZL 54 Rys lynx was a pre war Polish heavy fighter design developed in 1939 by the PZL company Although intended as an evolution and a replacement of the PZL 48 Lampart it never went beyond drawing boards due to Invasion of Poland and the outbreak of World War II The aircraft was to be equipped with more powerful Hispano Suiza 12Z inline engines and was slated to become one of the basic fighter bombers of the Polish Army Heavier than its predecessors due to larger and heavier engine the PZL 54 was to be faster feature a higher bombload with heavier 500 kg bombs mounted under the fuselage and operational range While primarily designed as a heavy fighter thanks to its strong armament the aircraft was to be also suitable as a bomber or fighter bomber The aircraft was to be an all metal duraluminium low wing monoplane with a classic retractable landing gear and a fixed tail wheel The aerodynamic profile was based on the highly successful PZL 37 Los bomber including the double tail fins The aircraft was to be armed with six 7 9 mm machine guns 3 in each wing two 20mm cannon in the nose and twin 7 9 mm MGs in the rear gunner s station In addition the aircraft was to be able to deliver a single 500 kg aerial bomb mounted below the fuselage or a collection of smaller bombs The construction of the first prototype was stopped by the outbreak of the Polish Defensive War While the design looked promising the PZL 54 was based around the new Hispano Suiza engines that at the time were still under development and could deliver only 1000 out of planned 1600 horsepower References editAndrzej Glass Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893 1939 Polish aviation constructions 1893 1939 WKiL Warsaw 1977 Polish language no ISBN See also editRelated development PZL 38 WilkAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Messerschmitt Bf 110 Potez 630 Fokker G I Kawasaki Ki 45 Fw 187 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title PZL 48 Lampart amp oldid 1169471034 PZL 54 Rys, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
