LUBLIN R-XIIID

Lublin R. XIII was a Polish liaison and accompanying aircraft (in cooperation with the army) of mixed construction, in the high wing configuration, with a fixed undercarriage. The drive was provided by a single engine Skoda-Whirlwind J5B with a power of 220 hp. The flight of the prototype took place in 1931 - in the same year serial production began, which led to the creation of 273 machines of this type. The armament was 1 Vickers K machine gun cal. 7.7 mm. Lublin R.XIII was created as a development of the R.XIV aircraft at Zakłady Mechaniczne Plage i Laśkiewicz (LWS). Compared to the original, it had a different shape of the vertical stabilizer, a slightly changed shape of the wing and a radio station. Lublin R.XIII was a successful structure, with a low failure rate, easy to operate and pilot, as well as to be operated from field airports. The first production series was called R.XIIIA, which was later upgraded to R.XIIIB. Shortly thereafter, aerodynamically improved C and D versions were developed. In 1932, a version with floats was also created - Lublin R.XIII bis / hydro. Aircraft of this type (around 150) took part in the September campaign in 1939.