RWD (Rogalski Wigura Drzewiecki) Polish Aircraft Designations

[Cy-27]

RWD was a Polish aircraft construction bureau active between 1928 and 1939. It started as a team of three young Warsaw University of Technology designers, Stanisław Rogalski, Stanisław Wigura and Jerzy Drzewiecki, whose names formed the RWD acronym. In 1933, Rogalski, Drzewiecki and Wędrychowski founded the company Doświadczalne Warsztaty Lotnicze (DWL, Experimental Aeronautical Works) in Warsaw, which became a manufacturer of further RWD aircraft.

Drzewiecki Designs

JD-1 Czarny Kot (Black Cat)
High wing glider. A heavy wooden early glider design also referred to as the SL-2 (its build number, SL – Sekja Lotnicze – University Air Section). It had a wheeled landing gear. [1925]

JD-2
A single engine wooden low-wing braced monoplane. The prototype, with a workshop number (cn) SL-4, was built in 1926 and first flown on October 4, 1926 in Warsaw. Design started in 1925 and 2 were built, including SP-ACA the second prototype (cn SL-6). Another unflown airframe (SL-5) was used for static testing. It was fitted with an Anzani 6-cylinder radial engine of 45 hp and could carry two people. [1925]

JD-2bis
A single engine low-wing braced monoplane for Aero Club use. Revised fuselage (8 inches / 20 cm longer), wing tips and fin, 2 built (SL-14/SP-ACD and SL-15/SP-ACF). One more built (SL-20/SP-ADP) the next year with an A.S. Genet (80 hp engine) replacing the Anzani 6-cylinder radial. [1929]

DK
Two seat fighter biplane project. Powered by a Lorraine W-type engine. [1926] *Project

Rogalski & Wigura Design

WR-1
This design was for a high wing, single engine, sporting aeroplane. [1927]

RW1
A high-wing braced wooden monoplane. Power came from a 45 hp Anzani 6-cylinder radial. It featured a tapering wing and was plywood covered with an unbalance rudder. [1926]

There is a possibility that these two designations (WR-1/RW1) relate to the same aircraft type.

Rogalski Wigura Drzewiecki (DWL Designs)

RWD-1
A Sports high-wing, braced, aeroplane. One ABC Scorpion II 2-cylinder air-cooled flat engine, 40 hp (53.6 kW) engine. The powerplant was horizontally opposed and suffered from extensive vibration issues. Wooden construction cantilever wing monoplane, conventional in layout. Installed with 2 seats, prototype only which was written off at the end of 1929. [1928]

RWD-2
A sporting single engine aeroplane with 2 seats. Wooden construction high-wing cantilever monoplane, conventional in layout. Fuselage rectangular in cross-section, plywood covered. Single-spar one-part wing of a trapezoid shape, covered with canvas and plywood in front. Built around a Salmson 9Ad 9-cylinder, air-cooled, radial engine 46 hp (33.8 kW). A prototype and a test airframe were built. First flew May 1929. [1929]

RWD-3
This design was for a high-wing liaison two-seat aircraft. Two examples were constructed, one to fly and one for static tests. The RWD-2 sports plane was quite successful and the Polish Military of Defence ordered, in 1929, RWD to develop an enlarged variant as a liaison plane. The type was of a wooden construction with a single-engine. It had a high-wing cantilever monoplane powered with an Armstrong Siddeley Genet II 5-cylinder radial engine, 65 kW (88 hp) engine. It featured folding wings but proved to be underpowered with heavy controls. It was later donated to the Warsaw Academic Aeroclub as SP-WAA. [1930]

RWD-4
Sportsplane high-wing, 1 engine with 2 seats, 9 built. It was based upon their earlier RWD-3 design, but enlarged and fitted with more powerful inline Cirrus Hermes 4-cylinder air-cooled straight engine, 115 hp (86, kW). The folding-wing was dispensed with and had re-profiled tail surfaces. The fuel tank was fitted in the wing centre section. [1930]

RWD-5
Sportsplane and tourer with a high-wing. 1 × Cirrus Hermes IIB 4-cylinder air-cooled straight engine, 115 hp (86 kW). Fitted with 2 seats, RWD constructed 20 examples. First flight was 7 August 1931. Cantilever monoplane of composite wooden construction, it featured a tapered wing. [1931]

RWD-5bis
Touring high-wing, 1 engine with one seat. In March 1933 a special single-seat variant was built, called RWD 5bis (registration SP-AJU), powered with 130 hp Gipsy Major engine. The rear cabin was replaced with an additional fuel tank and was used on long-distance flights. It claim to fame was its transatlantic flight, being the smallest aircraft to cross the Atlantic in 1933. [1933]

RWD-5R
Sports and touring high-wing, 1 engine with 2 seats, constructed in the late 1990's as a flying replica. It flew first on 26 August 2000. [1998]

RWD-6
Competition tourer high-wing, one engine with 2 seats. Specifically designed for competitions. First flew 3 June 1932. Despite the early loss of the second example, it was a successful competition aircraft. Three built in total. [1932]

RWD-7
Sportsplane with a high-wing. Fitted with a Armstrong-Siddeley Genet II 5-cylinder radial engine. Based on the earlier RWD-2 design but with reshaped tail surfaces. It broke the FAI altitude and speed records during 1931-1932. Two seats with a cantilever wing, constructed of wood. [1931]

RWD-8
A primary trainer strutted high-wing of composite construction. One engine of a variety of types ranging from 100 hp to 150 hp with 2 seats, constructed over 550 examples, Poland’s most produced aircraft. It had a thick aerofoil built in three sections. [1933]


Sources:

Polish Aircraft 1893-1939 by Jerzy B.Cynk (Putnam, 1981)ISBN 0370000854
Polskie Samoloty Wojskowe 1945-80 by Andrjez Morgala (Wydawn. Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej, 1981) ISBN 8311064830

 

[Cy-27]

RWD-9
Touring braced high-wing, with a single engine and 4 seats. This design had its origins in the earlier RWD-6. Work started in 1932, and eventually, 8 were built. The engine initially chosen was the Polish Skoda works GR.760 engine, but development was delayed and so a Menasco B-6S Buccaneer 6-cylinder air-cooled engine was installed instead. Featured a very neat spatted undercarriage. [1933]

RWD-10
An aerobatics braced high-wing aeroplane for flying clubs. One P.Z.Inz Junior 110 hp engine with a single seat. 23 were built. [1933]

RWD-11
A passenger low-wing, 2 engines with 2+6 seats, 1 aircraft completed. Similar layout to the British Avro Anson design. Six seat aircraft with fully slotted wings and retractable undercarriage. First flew in February 1936 powered by two Walter Major 6–cylinder inverted air-cooled engines. [1936]

RWD-12
Observation plane high wing, one Wright Whirlwind engine 2 with 2 seats, remained uncompleted, project only. [1935] *Project

RWD-13
Sports and touring high-wing braced monoplane, originally one D.H. Gipsy Major I engine with 3 seats, constructed over 100 aircraft. Similar in structure to the earlier RWD-6. Later the 120-130 hp P.Z.Inz Major or Walter Major engines were fitted to the type. [1935]

RWD-13S
An ambulance high-wing aeroplane, 1 x Gipsy engine. 15 ambulance aircraft were completed by September 1939. Some impressed into Polish Air Force use with 31 squadron. [1935]

RWD-14 Czapla (Heron)
Military reconnaissance aircraft, high-wing, 1 engine with 2 seats, constructed 65 aircraft. All produced by the LWS, all commissioned by Polish Air Force. Prototype flew with a 420 hp Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior 9-cylinder radial. Prototype performance was not as good as was expected, so the RWD-14a was developed. See http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,12050.msg117324.html#msg117324 [1935]

RWD-14a Czapla (Heron)
Improved military reconnaissance aircraft, high-wing, 1 PZL G.1620A Mors 9-cylinder radial engine. Featured modified wings and repositioned fuel tanks. After the loss of the first example of the RWD-14a, the tail unit was redesigned. The second example, however, met a similar fate. [1936]

RWD-14b Czapla (Heron)
Military reconnaissance aircraft with two seats and a high-wing. After the RWD-14a failures, the design was reviewed. Power was from a 1 PZL G.1620B Mors B radial engine. Early examples had serious tail-flutter issues. Correction meant service deliveries did not start until May-June 1939. In service, the type was prone to landing issues. Armed with a light defensive armament. [1937]

RWD-15
Touring and utility aircraft with a braced high-wing. One 205 hp de Havilland Gipsy Six Series II 6-cylinder engine with up to 5 seats, constructed 6 (+10 unfinished). An air survey version also existed with cameras mounted in the aircraft floor. [1937]

RWD-15S
'Sanitar' - ambulance aircraft high-wing aircraft. One de Havilland Gipsy Six Series II 6-cylinder engine. Provision for pilot and medical attendant and two stretcher cases, loaded through a large fuselage side-door. [1937]



Sources:

http://rwd-dwl.net/tresc.htm
Polish Aircraft 1893-1939 by Jerzy B.Cynk (Putnam, 1981)ISBN 0370000854
Polskie Samoloty Wojskowe 1945-80 by Andrjez Morgala (Wydawn. Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej, 1981) ISBN 8311064830

 

[Cy-27]

RWD-16
Sports aeroplane with low-wing and enclosed cabin. One Mikron I engine. This basic aeroplane had 2 side-by-side seats. Only one was constructed as it was deemed too basic and unrefined. [1936]

RWD-16b
Sports aeroplane with low-wing and enclosed cabin. The prototype RWD-16, SP-AXY, was returned to the factory and rebuilt. Fitted with an Avia 3 engine and a forward sloping windscreen. Became the basis for the RWD-16bis and RWD-21 designations. [1937]

RWD-16bis
Sports low-wing cabin monoplane. One Avia 3 60 hp engine was fitted the the first two aircraft built and the next two with Cirrus Minor 90hp engines. It still retained 2 seats, constructed 4, first flew in September 1938. [1938]

RWD-17
Trainer-aerobatics high-wing braced parasol design. A single engine, many used including P.Z.Inz Major, Cirrus Major and Bramo. Fitted with 2 seats, constructed 24 in all. [1937]

RWD-17w
Trainer floatplane, 1 engine with 2 seats, 125 ordered by the Polish Army (120) and Polish Navy (5) but only 6 completed. It had reinforced fuselage and Polish-made floats. [1938]

RWD-17 Series I
Military aerobatic trainer with a P.Z.Inz Major engine with 2 seats. Revised wing with increased sweep back. 40 on order, but not delivered. [1939]

RWD-17 Series II
Military aerobatic trainer. One P.Z.Inz Major engine with 2 seats. Three built as SP-BOW, SP-BOX and SP-BOZ. [1939]

RWD-17bis
Trainer floatplane, 1 engine with 2 seats, 125 ordered by the Polish Army (120) and Polish Navy (5) but only 6 completed. [1938]

RWD-18
Touring, general utility and ambulance high-wing cantilever monoplane. Twin Cirrus Major 150 hp engines with 5 seats. Construction was started but unfinished. A design to produce a short take-off and landing aircraft. [1939] *Project

RWD-19
Sports low-wing cantilever monoplane with a de Havilland Gipsy Major I (130 hp) engine with 2 seats, prototype only built, SP-BPD. Proved to be uneconomic to manufacture. [1938]

RWD-20
An experimental touring high-wing, one engine 6 with 2 seats, prototype only. The earlier RWD-9 prototype was converted with a 130 hp Walter Major 4-cylinder, air-cooled, inverted in-line engine. Its distinctive feature though, was its tricycle undercarriage and emergency tail-skid. [1937]

RWD-21
Sports and touring low-wing, fitted with a 90 hp Cirrus Minor engine with 2 seats. Four were completed with 10 unfinished when the war started. Based on the earlier RWD-16. [1939]

RWD-22
Torpedo coastal floatplane project, initially with two Argus As 10C or Walter Minor engines. Tapered wing with watertight compartments and slotted ailerons. 3 crew, remained a project only. [1940] *Project

RWD-23
Trainer low-wing, one 60-90 hp Avia 3 or Cirrus Minor engine with 2 seats, constructed prototype only. Similar configuration to the de Havilland DH94 Moth Minor. [1938]

RWD-24
Light bomber project, 2 engines 8 with 3 seats, project only. [1940] *Project

RWD-25
A low-wing, fixed-wheel single-seat fighter project with a single Gnome-Rhone Mars double-row radial engine. [1939] *Project

RWD-26
Trainer low-wing project, 1 Cirrus Minor engine with 2 seats, project only. [1940] *Project

Sources:

http://rwd-dwl.net/tresc.htm
Polish Aircraft 1893-1939 by Jerzy B.Cynk (Putnam, 1981)ISBN 0370000854
Polskie Samoloty Wojskowe 1945-80 by Andrjez Morgala (Wydawn. Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej, 1981) ISBN 8311064830

 

[Cy-27]

Found a side drawing of the RWD-25, together with some data:

Engine: 1 x Gnome-Rhone 14M05 14-cylinder
Wing Span: 10.5 m
Length: 7.0 m
Height: 2.3 m
Wing Area: 14 sq m
MTOW: 1,800 kg
Max Speed: 460 km/h

(It reminds me of a Fokker D.21)

Source:

Poskie Konstruckje Lotnicze 1893-1939 (Andrzej Glass) Wydawnictwa Komunikacji I Lacznosci, 1976

 

[hesham]

From a Polish book about RWD.

 

[hesham]

A good site;

http://www.eioba.pl/a/2nht/samoloty-zaprojektowane-w-doswiadczalnych-warsztatach-lotniczych