PZL M-2

M-2
300px
The second prototype preserved at Radomyśl Wielki
Role	Trainer aircraft
Manufacturer	WSK-Mielec
First flight	26 June 1958
Status	Prototype
Number built	2 prototypes

PZL M-2 was a Polish trainer aircraft prototype of 1958, a low-wing monoplane with a fixed gear, designed at WSK-Mielec, that did not enter production.

Design and development

The M-2 was designed as a trainer aircraft for the Polish Aero Club in newly created construction bureau of WSK Mielec factory. Main designer was Stanisław Jachyra. The first prototype was flown on 26 June 1958 (registration SP-PAC), the second on 13 September that year (SP-PBA).

The plane had quite modern, all-metal construction, but its drawback was an imported inline engine Praga Doris, causing vibration and not fit to aerobatics, what limited aircraft use. It was considered to fit the plane with the Polish flat engine Narkiewicz WN-6, but it was only in development stage then (eventually it was never perfected). Due to problems with engine choice, works upon the aircraft delayed, and in a meantime, te Polish Aero Club changed its preferences to aircraft with a tricycle landing gear and withdrew its interest. As a result, the plane did not enter production and further works were abandoned. A development of the M-2 was PZL M-4 Tarpan, with a retractable tricycle landing gear.

Survivors

The first prototype (SP-PAC) is stored in the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków (disassembled), the second prototype (SP-PBA) is preserved as a monument in Radomyśl Wielki near Mielec.

Specifications

Description

Metal construction low-wing monoplane, conventional in layout, metal covered. Semi-monocoque fuselage. Trapezoid wings, two-spar, fitted with flaps. Crew of two, sitting in tandem, under a common canopy, with double controls (student in front, instructor in the rear). Fixed conventional landing gear. Flat engine in front, two-blade tractor propeller, 2.3 m diameter. Fuel tanks in wings - 120 l.

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1961–62

General characteristics

• Crew: 1, instructor
• Capacity: 1, student
• Length: 7.62 m (25 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 9.50 m (31 ft 2½ in)
• Height: 3.02 m (9 ft 10 in)
• Wing area: 13.6 m² (146.4 sq ft)
• Aspect ratio: 6.62:1
• Empty weight: 787 kg (1,735 lb)
• Loaded weight: 1,067 kg (2,352 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Praga Doris M208B air-cooled flat-six engine, 220 HP (164 kW)

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 436 km/h (236 knots, 271 mph)
• Maximum speed: 282 km/h (152 knots, 175 mph)
• Cruise speed: 240 km/h (130 knots, 149 mph)
• Stall speed: 91 km/h (49 knots, 57 mph) (landing speed)
• Range: 685 km (370 nmi, 425 mi)
• Service ceiling: 5,600 m (18,370 ft)
• Rate of climb: 7.0 m/s (1,380 ft/min)

See also

Related development

• PZL M-4 Tarpan

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Zlin 226

References

• Janusz Babiejczuk, Jerzy Grzegorzewski: Polski przemysł lotniczy 1945-1973, Warsaw 1973 (Polish)
• Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1961–62. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1961.
• Jakub Marszałkiewicz - Samolot szkolno-treningowy PZL-M2
• PZL M-2 at Ugolok Neba (Russian)

External links

• Photos and drawings