PWS-52
| PWS-52 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Role | Sports aircraft |
| Manufacturer | PWS |
| First flight | July 1930 |
| Retired | 1939 |
| Status | prototype |
| Number built | 1 |
The PWS-52 was a Polish sports aircraft of 1930, a single-engine high-wing monoplane, constructed by the Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów (PWS), that remained a prototype.
The aircraft was designed in 1929 by Zbysław Ciołkosz and Antoni Uszacki in the Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów, specifically to participate in the Challenge international touring aircraft contest (along with PWS-50, PWS-51 and PWS-8). The design was generally modelled after de Havilland Puss Moth. The aircraft was first flown in early July 1930 by Franciszek Rutkowski in Biała Podlaska, weeks before the contest.
The prototype, with markings SP-ADD and contest number O8, took part in the Challenge International de Tourisme 1930 contest in 20–31 July 1930, flown by Franciszek Rutkowski. Unfortunately, after landing in Saint-Inglevert, the aircraft was overturned by the wind and was damaged.
After repairs the rudder shape was changed. Later the aircraft took part in some competitions in Poland, with limited success. Among others, flown by Józef Lewoniewski it took the 4th place in the 3rd Polish Light Aircraft Contest in September–October 1930. Lewoniewski then came up with an idea of solo flying the PWS-52 around the world. In 1931 the aircraft was fitted with three extra fuel tanks, giving a maximum capacity 760 l of fuel, which resulted in a range of 4000 km. The aircraft was fitted with a radio and a place for a dinghy. The rudder shape changed again, and the engine DH Gipsy I (85 HP) was changed to DH Gipsy III (120 hp), altering the aircraft's nose. Its maximum take-off weight rose to 1160 kg (with empty weight of 480 kg).
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