RWD-2

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RWD-2

RWD-2 during the Challenge 1930
Type	Sports plane
Manufacturer	Warsaw University of Technology workshops
Designed by	RWD team
Maiden flight	July 1929
Introduced	1929
Retired	1935
Primary user	Polish civilian aviation
Produced	1929-1930
Number built	4

The RWD-2 was a Polish sports plane of 1929, constructed by the RWD team.

1 Development
2 Description
3 Specifications
- 3.1 General characteristics
- 3.2 Performance
4 Related content

[edit] Development

The RWD-2 was constructed by the RWD team of Stanislaw Rogalski, Stanislaw Wigura and Jerzy Drzewiecki in Warsaw. It was a development of their first design RWD-1. Its feature was a unique, fish-shaped fuselage, with good aerodynamics, but without a direct view towards forward from the pilot's seat. For this reason, they were later called blind mice.

The first prototype (registration SP-ACE) was completed and flown by the designer Jerzy Drzewiecki in July 1929. In August-September 1929, Franciszek Zwirko and Stanislaw Wigura flew it across Europe, on Warsaw-Paris-Barcelona-Warsaw 5000 km route. On October 16, 1929, F. Zwirko and Antoni Kocjan set an international FAI height record of 4,004 m in the light tourist plane class (below 280 kg / 616 lb empty weight).

Since the design appeared quite successful, three more RWD-2s were built in 1930 (registration SP-ADJ, -ADG, -ADH). These aircraft took part in Challenge 1930 international touring planes competition in July. Stanislaw Plonczynski took the 19th place, as the best Pole (for 35 classified and 60 starting crews), and E. Wieckowski took the 21st place.

RWD-2s were also used in several Polish air competitions and other minor international ones, with some success. They were also used for training in aero clubs. They were withdrawn in 1935 (one was bought by private owner and existed some longer).

[edit] Description

Wooden construction sports plane, conventional in layout, with high-wings, canvas and plywood covered. Crew of two, sitting in tandem, with dual controls. The crew cabs were open on the sides in upper part, they had individual doors on the right side. 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine Salmson 9Ad, 40 hp power. Two-blade wooden or metal propeller. Conventional landing gear, with a rear skid. Fuel tank 75 l in wing (fuel consumption - 9.5 l/ flight hour).