WWII 1939 Polish Fighter PZL P.11

By Jaroslaw Skora

PZL P.11 was a basic type of fighter for Polish aviation equipment during the German invasion in September 1939. The aircraft was designed in 1931 by Eng. Zygmunt Pulawski. The publication includes the history of origins and development of fighter design from P.1 to P.24. A detailed technical description P.11a and P.11c. The author also presents shortly the course of battles in defence of the Polish airspace in September 1939. The book contains numerous photographs, drawings of aircraft projects, and colourful boards with camouflage and markings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jaroslaw Skora
• Release date: Dec 6, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301964017

Book preview

WWII 1939

Polish Fighter PZL P.11

Jaroslaw Skora

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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Copyright 2012 by Jaroslaw Skora

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Table of Contents

I. Introduction

II. Origin

III. Versions of the PZL P.11

PZL P.11a

PZL P.11b

PZL P.24

PZL P.11c

PZL P.11d

PZL P.11e

PZL P.11f

PZL P.11g Kobuz

IV. Technical characteristics of the PZL P.11

Fuselage

Tail plane

Airfoil

Undercarriage

Drive unit

Fuel system

Radio communication

Lubrication system

Cockpit

Safety

Armament

V. Painting of PZL P.11

VI. PZL P.11 in the air units

Polish Air Force organization

VII. PZL P.11 in defending Poland

War Organization of Polish Fighters

Army aviation

Krakow Army

Poznan Army

Pomorze Army

Modlin Army

Lodz Army

Pursuit Brigade

VIII. Conclusions

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I. Introduction

The PZL P. 11 was the basic fighter, which defended the Polish skies in September 1939, during the German assault. 320 planes were built (225 in Poland and 95 on license), which were used by Polish and Romanian air units.

II. Origin

At the end of the 1920s’ the Polish Air Force had only some old French fighters- Spad S. 51 and S.61. Those machines were characterized by weak construction and a high failure frequency, which was verified during intense use in civil units. In connection with the developing situation, the urgent need to buy some new equipment appeared.

According to the plan of General Ludomil Rayski the new head of the Department of Aeronautics, the Polish Air Force had to be based on home- made construction. The aircraft industry was expected to be concentrated in domestic hands.

In 1927, Department of Aeronautics charged CZL (Central Aviation Works) with a development of single- seated fighter of metal construction. The detailed characteristics were not specified. The task was set up by young graduate of University of Technology in Warsaw, Zygmunt Pulawski, who has just returned from his engineering practice at Breguet in France.

Pulawski suggested the concept of a high- wing airplane with an original aerofoil shape, which is called the Polish aerofoil or Pulawski’s aerofoil. The constructor shaped a wing, taking a seagull wing as a pattern. It means that by the fuselage both wings were folded and attached directly to a fuselage. To stiffen the construction, a wing was supported in the thickest place by two angle struts. Additionally, the aerofoil was narrowed near the fuselage. An air- cooled, straight engine, the Hispano-Suiza 12 Lb (600 HSP), was expected to provide the power. It allowed better front and side visibility. The second original solution used in this fighter was its lever undercarriage, (the double- arm lever idea). The idea was to hide the dampers