PZL.55: Difference between revisions
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''This fighter is sometimes called "PZL.62", but the correct designation is '''PZL.55'''.''<ref>Glass (2008), p.134</ref> |
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| name = PZL.55 |
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{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin |
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| image = PZL.55 drawings.jpg |
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| caption = Schematic drawings of the PZL.55 |
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|image = |
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}}{{Infobox aircraft type |
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|caption = |
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| type = [[Fighter aircraft]] |
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}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type |
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| manufacturer = [[Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze]] |
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|type = [[Fighter aircraft]] |
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| national origin = Poland |
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|manufacturer =[[PZL|Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze]] |
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| designer = [[Jerzy Dąbrowski]] |
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|national origin =Poland |
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| first flight = |
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|designer = |
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| introduced = |
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| retired = |
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|introduced = |
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| status = Project |
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|retired = |
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| primary user = [[Polish Air Force]] (planned) |
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|status = Project |
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| produced = |
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|primary user = [[Polish Air Force]] (planned) |
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| number built = |
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| unit cost = |
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| variants with their own articles = |
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|unit cost = |
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|developed from = [[PZL.26]] |
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|variants with their own articles = |
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}} |
}} |
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|} |
|} |
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'''PZL.55''' was a |
'''PZL.55''' was a Polish pre-war project of a [[fighter aircraft]], created at [[Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze]] by [[Jerzy Dąbrowski]]. The design was for a single-seat low-wing all-metal monoplane. It was planned that the plane would replace obsolete fighters and lead to a significant increase in the capabilities of Polish Military Aviation. |
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== Design and development == |
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The prototype PZL.55/I was designed for the [[Hispano-Suiza 12Y]] inline engine but production aircraft were intended to be powered by [[Hispano-Suiza 12Z]] inline engines.<ref>Glass (2008), p.134</ref> |
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At the end of the 1930s, [[Polish Air Force|Polish Military Aviation]] urgently needed a modern high-performance fighter with strong armament that could put up an equal fight with the latest German designs such as the [[Messerschmitt Bf 109|Bf 109]] and [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190|Fw 190]]. In the summer of 1939, the PZL.55 defeated the [[PZL.53 Jastrząb II|PZL.53]] and [[PZL.56 Kania|PZL.56]] designs in the competition for a future fighter aircraft and completed a series of tests in the [[wind tunnel]], giving promising results. The aviation command showed great interest in the PZL.55 project. In August 1939, the design and model of the fighter were approved and two prototypes were ordered. Due to the [[Invasion of Poland|German-Soviet invasion]] in September 1939, the implementation of the PZL.55 project was stopped shortly after it had started. |
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The project was developed using experience with the [[PZL.26]] sports plane and a private sports plane built by Dąbrowski for his own use. It was intended to use several very modern solutions for the Polish conditions at that time. The fighter was to have a fully retractable landing gear with [[Oleo strut|air-oil shock absorbers]], and powerful armament consisting of 6-8 machine guns was to be placed in the wings. The rest of the internal wing structure was to be taken up by integral fuel tanks. The wings were also equipped with flaps and automatic [[Leading-edge slat|Handley Page slats]]. The wing armament was to be complemented by an autocannon firing through the propeller shaft. A retractable engine coolant radiator was placed under the fuselage, but it is possible that this rather problematic solution would be abandoned in later stages of development. The pilot's cabin was fully adapted to night flights and had heating, air conditioning and instruments for piloting without ground visibility. The plane was also equipped with a transmitting and receiving radio station, an oxygen installation and armored pilot's seat. The windshield was also to be made of thick armored glass. Some of these solutions have already been used in [[PZL P.24]] and [[PZL.50 Jastrząb|PZL.50]]. |
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The first prototype PZL.55/I was designed for the [[Hispano-Suiza 12Y|Hispano-Suiza 12Y49]] inline engine but the final production version was to be powered by the more powerful, license-built [[Hispano-Suiza 12Z]] series engines which were still in development at the time.<ref>Glass (2008), p.134</ref> In 1939, Hispano-Suiza provided the PZL with information that the 12Z engines were to ultimately achieve a maximum power of 1,400-1,600 hp. The approved design assumed that such power would translate into a maximum speed of 650-700 km/h, which was an unprecedented speed at that time. Ultimately, the surrender of France during World War II halted development of the 12Z engines and full-scale production did not begin until the end of the war. The [[Allison V-1710|Allison V-1710-23]] engine was also considered, which, however, was not very realistic because deliveries from the USA would be long, expensive and prone to delays, and the Americans did not license the production of aircraft engines to other countries. |
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==Planned specifications (PZL.55)== |
==Planned specifications (PZL.55)== |
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{{Aircraft specs |
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{{aircraft specifications |
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|plane or copter?=plane |
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|jet or prop?=prop |
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|ref=<ref>Glass (2008), p.134-135</ref> |
|ref=<ref>Glass (2008), p.134-135</ref> |
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|prime units?=met |
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|crew=1 |
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<!-- |
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General characteristics |
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--> |
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|genhide= |
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|crew= |
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|capacity= |
|capacity= |
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|length |
|length m=9.6 |
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|length |
|length ft= |
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|length in= |
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|span main=11.0 - 11.25 m |
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|length note= |
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|span m=11.25 |
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|span ft= |
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|height alt= 8 ft 10 in |
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|span in= |
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|area main=19-22.5 m² |
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|span note= |
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|height m=2.7 |
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|empty weight main=2,300 kg |
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|height ft= |
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|empty weight alt= |
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|height in= |
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|loaded weight main=3,250 kg |
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|height note= |
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|loaded weight alt= |
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|wing area sqm=22.5 |
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|useful load main=950 kg |
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|wing area sqft= |
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|wing area note= |
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|engine (prop)= [[Hispano-Suiza 12Z]] |
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|airfoil= |
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|type of prop=inline engine |
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|empty weight kg=2300 |
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|number of props=1 |
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|empty weight lb= |
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|power main=1400-1600 hp |
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|empty weight note= |
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|power alt= |
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|gross weight kg=3250 |
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|max speed main=660 km/h |
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|gross weight lb= |
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|gross weight note= |
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|combat radius main=800 km |
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|max takeoff weight kg= |
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|combat radius alt= |
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|max takeoff weight lb= |
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|ceiling main= |
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|max takeoff weight note= |
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|ceiling alt= |
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|fuel capacity= |
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|climb rate main= |
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|more general= |
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|climb rate alt= |
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<!-- |
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|power/mass main= |
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Powerplant |
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|power/mass alt= |
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--> |
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|guns=1 x Hispano-Suiza gun, 6-8 x 7.92 mm PWU wz.36 [[machine gun]]s |
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|eng1 number=1 |
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|bombs= |
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|eng1 name=[[Hispano-Suiza 12Z]] |
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}} |
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|eng1 type=V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine |
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|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines --> |
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|eng1 hp=1600 |
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|eng1 shp=<!-- prop engines --> |
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|eng1 note= |
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|power original= |
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|more power= |
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|prop blade number=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |
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|prop name= |
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|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |
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|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |
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|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |
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|prop dia note= |
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<!-- |
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Performance |
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--> |
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|perfhide= |
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|max speed kmh=660 |
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==References== |
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|max speed mph= |
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{{reflist}} |
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|max speed kts= |
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|max speed note= |
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|cruise speed kmh= |
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|cruise speed mph= |
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|cruise speed kts= |
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|cruise speed note= |
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|stall speed kmh= |
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|stall speed mph= |
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|stall speed kts= |
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|stall speed note= |
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|never exceed speed kmh= |
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|never exceed speed mph= |
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|never exceed speed kts= |
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|never exceed speed note= |
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|minimum control speed kmh= |
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|minimum control speed mph= |
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|minimum control speed kts= |
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|minimum control speed note= |
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|range km=800 |
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|range miles= |
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|range nmi= |
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|range note= |
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|combat range km= |
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|combat range miles= |
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|combat range nmi= |
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|combat range note= |
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|ferry range km= |
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|ferry range miles= |
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|ferry range nmi= |
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|ferry range note= |
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|endurance=<!-- if range unknown --> |
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|ceiling m= |
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|ceiling ft= |
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|ceiling note= |
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|g limits=<!-- aerobatic --> |
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|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic --> |
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|climb rate ms= |
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|climb rate ftmin= |
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|climb rate note= |
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|time to altitude= |
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|wing loading kg/m2= |
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|wing loading lb/sqft= |
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|wing loading note= |
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|disk loading kg/m2= |
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|disk loading lb/sqft= |
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|disk loading note= |
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|fuel consumption kg/km= |
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|fuel consumption lb/mi= |
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|power/mass= |
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|thrust/weight= |
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|more performance= |
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===Bibliography=== |
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<!-- |
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{{refbegin}} |
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Armament |
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* Glass, Andrzej. ''Polskie Konstrukcje Lotnicze Vol.3'' (In Polish). Sandomierz, Poland: Wydawnictwo Stratus, 2008. |
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--> |
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{{refend}} |
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|guns=1 x [[Hispano-Suiza HS.404]] {{convert|20|mm|in|abbr=on|3}} cannon, 6-8 x {{convert|7.92|mm|in|abbr=on|3}} [[PWU wz.36]] [[machine gun]]s |
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|avionics= |
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}} |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{commonscat|PZL aircraft}} |
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{{aircontent |
{{aircontent |
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|related = |
|related = |
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|similar aircraft = |
|similar aircraft = |
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}} |
}} |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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===Bibliography=== |
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{{refbegin}} |
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* Glass, Andrzej. ''Polskie Konstrukcje Lotnicze Vol.3'' (In Polish). Sandomierz, Poland: Wydawnictwo Stratus, 2008. |
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{{refend}} |
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{{PZL aircraft}} |
{{PZL aircraft}} |
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{{aviation lists}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:PZL aircraft]] |
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[[Category:1930s Polish fighter aircraft]] |
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[[Category:World War II Polish fighter aircraft]] |
[[Category:World War II Polish fighter aircraft]] |
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[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]] |
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[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] |
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{{aero-1930s-stub}} |
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Latest revision as of 18:17, 26 October 2024
| PZL.55 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Schematic drawings of the PZL.55 | |
| Role | Fighter aircraft |
| National origin | Poland |
| Manufacturer | Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze |
| Designer | Jerzy Dąbrowski |
| Status | Project |
| Primary user | Polish Air Force (planned) |
PZL.55 was a Polish pre-war project of a fighter aircraft, created at Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze by Jerzy Dąbrowski. The design was for a single-seat low-wing all-metal monoplane. It was planned that the plane would replace obsolete fighters and lead to a significant increase in the capabilities of Polish Military Aviation.
Design and development
[edit]At the end of the 1930s, Polish Military Aviation urgently needed a modern high-performance fighter with strong armament that could put up an equal fight with the latest German designs such as the Bf 109 and Fw 190. In the summer of 1939, the PZL.55 defeated the PZL.53 and PZL.56 designs in the competition for a future fighter aircraft and completed a series of tests in the wind tunnel, giving promising results. The aviation command showed great interest in the PZL.55 project. In August 1939, the design and model of the fighter were approved and two prototypes were ordered. Due to the German-Soviet invasion in September 1939, the implementation of the PZL.55 project was stopped shortly after it had started.
The project was developed using experience with the PZL.26 sports plane and a private sports plane built by Dąbrowski for his own use. It was intended to use several very modern solutions for the Polish conditions at that time. The fighter was to have a fully retractable landing gear with air-oil shock absorbers, and powerful armament consisting of 6-8 machine guns was to be placed in the wings. The rest of the internal wing structure was to be taken up by integral fuel tanks. The wings were also equipped with flaps and automatic Handley Page slats. The wing armament was to be complemented by an autocannon firing through the propeller shaft. A retractable engine coolant radiator was placed under the fuselage, but it is possible that this rather problematic solution would be abandoned in later stages of development. The pilot's cabin was fully adapted to night flights and had heating, air conditioning and instruments for piloting without ground visibility. The plane was also equipped with a transmitting and receiving radio station, an oxygen installation and armored pilot's seat. The windshield was also to be made of thick armored glass. Some of these solutions have already been used in PZL P.24 and PZL.50.
The first prototype PZL.55/I was designed for the Hispano-Suiza 12Y49 inline engine but the final production version was to be powered by the more powerful, license-built Hispano-Suiza 12Z series engines which were still in development at the time.[1] In 1939, Hispano-Suiza provided the PZL with information that the 12Z engines were to ultimately achieve a maximum power of 1,400-1,600 hp. The approved design assumed that such power would translate into a maximum speed of 650-700 km/h, which was an unprecedented speed at that time. Ultimately, the surrender of France during World War II halted development of the 12Z engines and full-scale production did not begin until the end of the war. The Allison V-1710-23 engine was also considered, which, however, was not very realistic because deliveries from the USA would be long, expensive and prone to delays, and the Americans did not license the production of aircraft engines to other countries.
Planned specifications (PZL.55)
[edit]Data from [2]
General characteristics
- Length: 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
- Wingspan: 11.25 m (36 ft 11 in)
- Height: 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 22.5 m2 (242 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 2,300 kg (5,071 lb)
- Gross weight: 3,250 kg (7,165 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Z V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 1,200 kW (1,600 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 660 km/h (410 mph, 360 kn)
- Range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi)
Armament
- Guns: 1 x Hispano-Suiza HS.404 20 mm (0.787 in) cannon, 6-8 x 7.92 mm (0.312 in) PWU wz.36 machine guns
See also
[edit]Related development
References
[edit]Bibliography
[edit]- Glass, Andrzej. Polskie Konstrukcje Lotnicze Vol.3 (In Polish). Sandomierz, Poland: Wydawnictwo Stratus, 2008.