PZL Krosno KR-03 Puchatek
{{Short description|Polish glider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=KR-03 Puchatek | image=File:Szybowiec-Puchatek cr.jpg | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Glider | national origin=Poland | manufacturer=PZL Krosno | designer=Jerzy Krawczyk and Eugeniusz Pelczar | first flight=1985 | introduced= | retired= | status= Production completed | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=about 30 | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The PZL Krosno KR-03 Puchatek is a Polish mid-wing, T-tailed, two-seats-in-tandem, glider that was designed by Jerzy Krawczyk and Eugeniusz Pelczar and produced by PZL Krosno, first flying in 1985.{{Cite web|url = http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?planeID=191|title = KR-03A Puchatek PZL Krosno|access-date = 21 August 2011|author = Activate Media|year = 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120829150036/http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?planeID=191|archive-date = 29 August 2012|url-status = dead}}{{Cite web|url = http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/feaf898944041edf862573a2004bffcd/$FILE/G56eu.pdf|title = Type Certificate Data Sheet No. G56EU |access-date = 21 August 2011|author = Federal Aviation Administration|author-link = Federal Aviation Administration|date=November 2007}}
Design and development
The KR-03 was designed as an ab initio training glider. The name Puchatek is Polish translation of Pooh Bear.{{cite book |last=Milne |first=A.A. |date=2012 |translator=Irena Tuwim |title= Kubuś Puchatek|edition=29th |language=pl |publisher=Wydawnictwo Nasza Księgarnia |isbn= 978-83-10-12033-5}}
The aircraft is made from aluminium with some parts covered in doped aircraft fabric covering. Its {{convert|16.4|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing employs a Wortmann FX S-02-158 airfoil. The wing features top and bottom Schempp-Hirth-style dive brakes. The landing gear consists of an oleo-pneumatic sprung, non-retractable main wheel, a tail wheel and a rubber sprung nose skid. The Puchatek has a baggage compartment with a capacity of {{convert|5|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} for soft baggage items.{{Cite web|url = http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|title = The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage|access-date = 1 August 2011|last = Lednicer|first = David|year = 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100420012244/http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|archive-date = 20 April 2010|url-status = dead}}
The aircraft was type certified in the United States on 6 August 1991, with Barry Aviation of Edgewater, Volusia County, Florida as the US certificate holder.
Operational history
In 1993, a few examples were put into service with the Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC), totalling to three as of 2012. They are currently assigned to 2 Wing AAFC. They are still in service as of 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://www.adf-serials.com.au/PZLPuchatek.htm|title=PZLPUCHATEK|date=6 May 2014|access-date=29 April 2020}}
As of August 2011 there were 16 KR-03As registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration{{Cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=KR-03A&PageNo=1|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|access-date = 21 August 2011|author = Federal Aviation Administration|author-link = Federal Aviation Administration|date=August 2011}} and in August 2022 there were 10 KR-03As registered.{{Cite web|url = https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/MakeModelResult?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=KR-03A|title = Aircraft Inquiry|access-date = 3 August 2022|author = Federal Aviation Administration|author-link = Federal Aviation Administration|date=August 2022}}
Variants
Specifications (KR-03A)
File:VH-GKR PZL Krosno KR-03A Puchatek Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) (9550080644).jpg
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Sailplane Directory, Type Certificate G56EU and The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage
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|crew=one
|capacity=one passenger
|length m=
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|span m=16.4
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|wing area sqm=19.44
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|airfoil=Wortmann FX S-02-158
|empty weight kg=350
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|gross weight kg=540
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|never exceed speed kts=107
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|g limits=+5.3/-2.65
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=27:1 at {{convert|88|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}
|sink rate ms=0.78
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|wing loading kg/m2=27.78
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See also
References
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