PWS-8
{{Short description|1930s Polish light aircraft}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
|name =P.W.S.8 |image =PWS8.jpg |caption =PWS-8 during the Challenge contest }}{{Infobox aircraft type |type =Sports plane |manufacturer =PWS |designer = |first flight =1929 or 1930 |introduced =1930 |retired = |status = prototype |primary user = |more users = |produced = |number built =1 |unit cost = |variants with their own articles = }} |
The P.W.S.8 was a 1930 Polish sports plane, constructed by the Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów (PWS), that remained a prototype.
Design and development
The plane was designed in 1929 by Jarosław Naleszkiewicz in Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów, on factory's initiative, to participate in the Challenge 1930 international touring aircraft contest (with P.W.S.50, P.W.S.51 and P.W.S.52). It was a wooden biplane, partly modelled after de Havilland Gipsy Moth.Glass, A. (1977), p.184-185 Its unique feature, taken from earlier PWS military aircraft, like P.W.S.5, were N-shaped struts between lower and upper wing and additional oblique transverse struts, stiffening the design, instead of wire braces (similar bracing to Handley Page Gugnunc[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1930/untitled0%20-%200936.html Edwin P.A. Heinze, International Touring Competition], in Flight, August 8, 1930, p.888).
The plane was first flown in 1929 or 1930 by F. Rutkowski, with Armstrong Siddeley Genet 80 hp radial engine. In spring of 1930 it was modified, with Walter Vega 85 hp radial engine, also a tailfin shape and some other details were changed. It was however too heavy for engines used (65 kg heavier, than designed).
The plane was a counterpart of PZL.5 for a sportsplane and trainer, but was worse, and as a result, remained a prototype. Its major fault was low speed, especially in a view of competition purpose.
Operational history
The prototype, with markings SP-ADA, took part in the Challenge 1930 international contest in July 1930, flown by Piotr Dudziński. He was disqualified for time infringement during a rally over Europe, but completed the rally off the contest.*{{in lang|pl}} Krzyżan, Marian. Międzynarodowe turnieje lotnicze 1929-1934 [International aviation competitions 1929-1934], Warsaw 1988, {{ISBN|83-206-0637-3}}
Later the plane was used for a short time by an Aviation Club of the PWS factory. Possibly it was broken up by 1931, because there is information about its engine being used in the repaired P.W.S.51.Glass, A. (1977), p.187
Description
The P.W.S.8 was a wooden construction braced biplane. A fuselage was rectangular in cross-section, with plywood skin, except for an engine section, which was duralumin sheet covered. The wings were rectangular three-section, two-spar, with rounded tips, canvas covered (plywood covered on a leading edge). The ailerons were on a lower wing, which had a smaller span of 9 m. The wings were folding rearwards (width with folded wings was 2.95 m). Crew of two, sitting in tandem in open cockpits with windshields. Cockpits with dual controls (a front cockpit had removable steering stick). The third cab could be set up in a baggage compartment behind.
The plane had 5-cylinder air-cooled radial engine Walter Vega in front, developing 85 hp nominal power and 90 hp take-off power. Two-blade wooden propeller Heine of a fixed pitch. Conventional fixed landing gear, with a rear skid. Fuel tank 125 L in upper central wing section (additional 60 L tank could be mounted in the fuselage front). Fuel consumption - 22 L/hour.
Specifications (P.W.S.8)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=met
|crew=2
|length m=7.5
|length note=
|span m=10
|span note=
|height m=2.95
|height note=
|wing area sqm=22.1
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=455
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=775
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Walter Vega
|eng1 type=5-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine
|eng1 hp=85
|eng1 note=
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=fixed-pitch propeller
|prop dia m=
|prop dia note=
|max speed kmh=136
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=125
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=72
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=700
|range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=3000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|climb rate ms=2.4
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=35
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
}}
See also
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|similar aircraft=
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|PWS-8}}
- [http://www.airwar.ru/enc/law1/pws8.html Photos and drawings at Ugolok Neba]
{{PWS aircraft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:P.W.S.08}}
Category:1930s Polish sport aircraft