TS-16 RD GROT

TS-16 Grot is a project of a Polish fighter-attack and training-training aircraft with a metal structure in the high wing configuration, with a triple-support landing gear - retractable in flight. The propulsion was to be provided by two turbojet engines SO-2. Work on the plane lasted at the turn of the 1950s and 1960s, but the prototype was never tested. The machine was to be armed with two 23mm cannons and carry weapons on under-wing pylons. TS-16 Grot was designed by eng. Tadeusz Sołtyk at the WSK-Mielec plant. The machine was designed as supersonic, possibly easy to use and operate, and adapted to operate from field airfields. It was planned to create two main versions of the aircraft: fighter-attack (TS-16A) and training-training (TS-16B). It is worth adding that a single prototype was created, or rather a full-size mock-up of this aircraft, designated TS-16RD. Ultimately, however, the TS-16 Grot project was abandoned due to too high financial costs.