PZL SZD-30 Pirat

The SZD-30 Pirat is a single-seat multipurpose glider aircraft from the Polish firm PZL Bielsko which first flew in 1966, and started production in 1967.

SZD-30 Pirat
SZD-30 Pirat at EPSU, August 2007
Role Club-class, formerly Standard-class sailplane
National origin Poland
Manufacturer PZL Bielsko
Designer Jerzy Smielkiewicz
First flight 19 May 1966
Introduction 1967
Number built 776 (1967-1980)

Development

The SZD-30 is mostly constructed out of wood. The high-mounted wing incorporates air brakes on both the upper and lower surfaces. The inner section of the wing is constant-chord and the outer section is tapered.

The forward section of the otherwise all-wood fuselage is made of fiberglass. The single-wheel main landing gear is fixed, the formed one-piece canopy is side-mounted, the fuselage can be equipped with radios and an oxygen system. There are also two baggage compartments.

Variants
  • SZD-30 – Initial production version
  • SZD-30B – A single prototype
  • SZD-30C – Later production version, with smaller partially balanced ailerons made of fiberglass, and a larger cockpit. The first -30C flew on 10 January 1978.

Operational limitations

In 2011, following a number of cases of glue failure in the wooden joints, leading to structural failure, the type certificate holder issued a bulletin which reduced a number of the limiting speeds of the aircraft. Specifically, the maximum speed (VNE) was reduced to 195 km/h (121 mph, 105 knots) and aerobatic flight was prohibited.

Specifications
SZD-30 Pirat

Data from Australian Gliding Museum [1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in)
  • Wingspan: 15.00 m (49 ft 3 in)
  • Height: 0.96 m (3 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 13.8 m2 (148.5 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 16.3
  • Airfoil: FX-61-168/60-1261
  • Empty weight: 260 kg (573 lb)
  • Gross weight: 370 kg (816 lb)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 250 km/h (155 mph, 135 kn)
  • Stall speed: 60.2 km/h (37.4 mph, 32.5 kn)
  • Maximum glide ratio: 33
  • Rate of sink: 0.70 m/s (138 ft/min)

See also

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to SZD-30 Pirat.
  1. "Machine - Glider - Sailplane". Victorian Collections. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
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