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The SZD-8 Jaskółka was a single-seat glider aircraft

Glider aircraft

Glider aircraft are heavier-than-air craft that are supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against their lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Mostly these types of aircraft are intended for routine operation without engines, though engine failure can...

 that was designed and built in Poland

Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

 at Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny

Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny

Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny , Glider Experimental Works was a glider design and research centre of the Polish aerospace industry after World War II, located in Bielsko-Biała. Through its history it underwent many organizational and name changes, among others in 1946-1948 it was Instytut...

(Glider Experimental Works) in Bielsko-Biała

Bielsko-Biała

-Economy and Industry:Nowadays Bielsko-Biała is one of the best-developed parts of Poland. It was ranked 2nd best city for business in that country by Forbes. About 5% of people are unemployed . Bielsko-Biała is famous for its textile, machine-building, and especially automotive industry...

 from 1951.

Development

With prototypes rolled out in September and December 1951, the SZD-8 Jaskółka (Swallow) was a high-performance glider for its day, introducing several innovations to glider design such as a sliding moulded plexiglass canopy, recessed handle in the rear fuselage for ground handling and a semi-retractable mainwheel. The all-wood wings were covered with plywood and fabric incorporating Fowler flaps on the trailing edges, which could be lowered to 12° or 25°, and Schemp-Hirth style airbrakes

Air brake (aircraft)

In aeronautics, air brakes or speedbrakes are a type of flight control surface used on an aircraft to increase drag or increase the angle of approach during landing....

 aft of the mainspars. Main designer was Tadeusz Kostia. The first prototype was flown on 21 September 1951 (test pilot

Test pilot

A test pilot is an aviator who flies new and modified aircraft in specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques or FTTs, allowing the results to be measured and the design to be evaluated....

 Adam Zientek), but it revealed faults. After reconstruction, with longer fuselage and enlarged rudder (designated SZD-8-2) it appeared successful and was ordered to production. From 1953 to 1957 it was the most popular competition glider in Poland. Many of the 135 production aircraft were exported, garnering at least fifteen world records from May 1954 to May 1960. Licensed production was also carried out in the DDR (East Germany) and the PRC

People's Republic of China

China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

(People's Republic of China). Several variants were produced which introduced various improvements and modifications.

Variants

• SZD-8 – two prototypes, first flown 21 September 1951
• SZD 8-2 - first prototype after reconstruction, first flown 16 March 1952
• SZD-8bis Jaskółka – initial production variant (first flown 24 December 1952; 30 built)
• SZD-8bisE Jaskółka E - improved variant of 1954 (30 built)
• SZD-8bisW Jaskółka W - variant with water ballast (1 built, later converted to SZD-8bisZ)
• SZD-8bisZ Jaskółka Z - one prototype
• SZD-8bisO Jaskółka O - export variant
• SZD 8terZ Jaskółka Z – variant with water ballast, introduced in May 1958
• SZD 8terZO Jaskółka ZO – variant without water ballast, introduced in 1958

Specifications (SZD-8 Jaskółka)