06-2013 RWD-5BIS

The RWD-5 was a Polish sports and tourist aircraft in the high-wing, mixed construction, with a fixed undercarriage from the interwar period. The drive was provided by various power units (eg Cirrus-Hermes IIB) with a maximum power of 115 to 150 HP. The flight of the prototype took place in August 1931, and serial production was carried out in the period 1931-1937. About 20 examples of this plane were built in its course. The RWD-5 was developed by a well-known team of Polish engineers including S. Rogalski, S. Wigur, J. Drzewiecki, and its production was carried out at the Experimental Aviation Workshops (DWL) in Warsaw. The new plane was a development of the previous, successful designs from the series, especially the RWD-4 aircraft. It was from this aircraft that the RWD-5 took over the airfoil contour, general assumptions and the shape of the rear tail. However, the shape of the fuselage and the structure of the aircraft were completely changed. The cabin was also different, with rich glazing. Finally, a very successful aircraft was created, considered to be the best in its class in Poland, capable of competing with other European designs. In 1933, the RWD-5bis version was created, which was a record version and it was on it that Stanisław Skarżyński made a flight from Warsaw to Rio de Janeiro in 1933 at a distance of 17,885 kilometers!