RWD-5 - Definition

The RWD-5 was a Polish touring and sport plane of 1932, constructed by the RWD team. It was made famous by its flight over Atlantic.

RWD-5bis SP-AJU

Contents

1 Development

2 The flight across the Atlantic

3 Description

4 Specifications (RWD-5)

4.1 General Characteristics
4.2 Performance

5 Related Content

Development

The RWD-5 was constructed by the RWD team of Stanislaw Rogalski, Stanislaw Wigura and Jerzy Drzewiecki in the DWL workshops (their designs were named RWD after their initial letters). It was a further development of earlier RWD aircraft series (RWD-1, 2, 3 and 7), especially of its direct predecessor, the RWD-4. It shared the same wing shape and construction, while the fuselage was totally new, constructed of steel frame, unlike its wooden predecessors. The fuselage had a modern shape and a closed canopy with a panoramic windows (earlier models had strange fish-shaped fuselages without a direct view towards forward from the pilot's seat).

The first prototype (registration SP-AGJ) was flown on August 7, 1932 by his designer Jerzy Drzewiecki. After successes in Polish air competitions, a small-scale series production was carried out. By 1934, 20 aircraft were made (the last one was produced in 1937). They were used as trainers and sport planes, with quite good results. As sport and touring planes, they were later superceded by the RWD-13. None of the RWD-5 survived the war. Lately, a flying replica of the RWD-5 was built in Poland.

The flight across the Atlantic

In March 1933 a special single-seater variant was flown, called RWD-5bis and (registration SP-AJU). The rear cabin was replaced with an additional 300 l (79 US gal) fuel tank, and the windows were removed. Additional fuel tanks were added in wings, the fuel capacity reached 752 l (199 US gal) in total and a range increased to 5,000 km (3,125 miles). Stanislaw Skarzynski flew this plane from Warsaw to Rio de Janeiro from April 27 to June 24, 1933, on a path of 17,885 km (11,178 miles).

During his travel, on May 7/8, Skarzynski flew the RWD-5bis across the southern Atlantic, from Saint-Louis, Senegal to Maceio in Brazil. The flight took 20 hours 30 minutes (17 hours above the ocean). He crossed 3,582 km (2,239 miles), establishing a distance record in the FAI tourist plane class. The RWD-5bis was the smallest plane that has ever flown across the Atlantic - its empty weight was below 450 kg (990 lbs; only high-tech Rutan Voyager of 1986 was a bit lighter empty, but much heavier when loaded).

After a record flight, the RWD-5bis was converted to a two-seater variant.

Description

Mixed construction (steel and wood) sport and touring plane, conventional in layout, with high-wings, canvas and plywood covered, with closed canopy. Crew of two, sitting in tandem, with twin controls. A variety of 4 cylinder air-cooled inline engines were used, most typically Cirrus Hermes IIB 86 kW (115 hp) (the RWD-5bis had a de Havilland Gipsy Major of 97 kW, 130 hp). Two-blade wooden propeller. Conventional landing gear, with a rear skid.

Specifications (RWD-5)

General Characteristics

Crew: Two
Length: 7.2 m (23 ft 7 in)
Wingspan: 10.2 m (33 ft 5 in)
Height: 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)
Wing area: 15.50 m² (167 ft²)
Empty: 430 kg (946 lb)
Loaded: kg ( lb)
Maximum takeoff: 760 kg (1,672 lb)
Powerplant: 1x Cirrus Hermes IIB, 86 kW (115 hp), or similar

Performance

Maximum speed: 202 km/h (126 mph)
Range: 1,080 km (675 miles)
Service ceiling: 4,700 m (15,416 ft)
Rate of climb: 276 m/min (905 ft/min)
Wing loading: 49 kg/m² ( lb/ft²)
Power/Mass: kW/kg, hp/lb