PZL P.11c
PZL P.11c
Description
Role	Fighter
Crew	1
First flight	August, 1931
Entered service	1934
Manufacturer	PZL
Dimensions
Length	7.55 m (7.25 m - P-11a)
Wingspan	10.72 m
Height	2.85 m (2.69 m - P-11a)
Wing area	17.9 m²	ft²
Weights
Empty	1,147 kg (1,116 kg - P-11a)
Loaded	1,650 kg (1,580 kg - P-11a)
Maximum takeoff	1,800 kg (? kg - P-11a)
Powerplant
Engines 1 x	Bristol Mercury
Power 1 x	Mercury IV S2 (P.11a)
	429 kW max	575 hp
Power 1 x	Mercury VI S2 (P.11c)
	470 kW max	630 hp
Performance
Maximum speed	375 km/h (340 km/h - P.11a)
Combat range	550 km (480 km - P.11a)
Ferry range	km
Service ceiling	8,000 m
Rate of climb	12.4 - 14.5 m/s
Armament
Guns	2 or 4 x 7.92 mm machine guns
Bombs	50 kg	lb

The PZL P.11 was a Polish fighter aircraft, designed in early-1930s by PZL in Warsaw. It was the main fighter in the Polish September Campaign. PZL P.11c Polish fighter The only PZL P.11c that survived the war. ... A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for attacking other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed to attack ground targets, primarily by dropping bombs. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1931: Events Manufacturer Airspeed Ltd founded in York, England. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1934: Events January Soviet pilots Fedossenko, Wassenko and Usyskin take the stratosphere-balloon Ossoaviachim I to 22,000 m (72,160 ft). ... PZL is an abbreviation name used by three Polish aerospace manufacturers. ... Bristol Mercury engine The Mercury was a 9 cylinder one_row radial aircraft engine that was developed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1925, as their Bristol Jupiter was reaching the end of its lifespan. ... A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ... A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for attacking other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed to attack ground targets, primarily by dropping bombs. ... PZL is an abbreviation name used by three Polish aerospace manufacturers. ... Motto: Contemnit procellas (It defies the storms) Semper invicta (Always invincible) Voivodship Masovian Municipal government Mayor MirosÅ‚aw Kochalski (acting) Area 516,9 km² Population  - city  - urban  - density 1,692,900 (2004) 2,400,000 3258/km² Founded City rights 13th century turn of the 13th century Latitude Longitude 52... Combatants Poland Germany, Slovakia Soviet Union Commanders Edward Rydz-ÅšmigÅ‚y Fedor von Bock (Army Group North) Gerd von Rundstedt (Army Group South) Strength 39 divisions, 16 brigades 1 million soldiers[3] 4,300 guns 880 tanks 400 aircraft 56 divisions, 4 brigades 1. ...

Development

The history of PZL P.11 started in 1929, when a talented designer, Zygmunt Pulawski, designed an all-metal metal-covered monoplane fighter. While most of the world's forces were still using biplanes, the new P.1 used a high-mounted gull wing to give the pilot an excellent view. A second prototype, the P.6, was completed the next year. The design generated intense interest around the world, the layout becoming known as the "Polish wing" or "Pulawski wing". A further improvement, the PZL P.7, was built for the Polish Air Force in a series of 150. This is a list of aviation-related events from 1929: Greatest number of fatal civil aircraft crashes in US history. ... A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings of similar spans, normally one mounted above, and the other level with, the underside of the fuselage. ... The gull-winged PBM Mariner. ... The PZL P.7 was the Polish fighter aircraft, designed in early-1930s in the PZL factory in Warsaw. ... Flag of the Polish Air Force Polish Air Force (Siły Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, Sily Powietrzne RP) - the Air Force of Poland. ...

After designing P.7, Pulawski started further developments with larger engines, leading eventually to the PZL P.11. The first prototype P.11 flew in August 1931, after Pulawski's death in an air crash. It was followed by two slightly changed prototypes. The first variant ordered by the Polish airforce was P.11a, considered as an interim model and built in a series of 30. Otherwise similar to the P.7, it mounted the 575 hp (429 kW) Bristol Mercury IV S2 radial engine produced in Poland under licence. The final variant for the Polish airforce, P.11c, had a new, refined fuselage, with the engine lowered in the nose to give the pilot a better view. The central part of wings was also modified. Production of P.11c started in 1934, and 175 were produced. The first series of approximately 50 P.11c were fitted with Mercury V S2 of 600 hp (447 kW), the rest with Mercury VI S2 of 630 hp (470 kW). 1931 (MCMXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Bristol Mercury engine The Mercury was a 9 cylinder one_row radial aircraft engine that was developed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1925, as their Bristol Jupiter was reaching the end of its lifespan. ... Radial engine of a biplane. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Apart from Poland, Romania showed interest in the new design. Even before P.11a, 50 aircraft designated P.11b were produced for the Romanian Air Force and delivered in 1932. They were fitted with engines Gnome-Rhone 9Krsd Mistral 595 HP, otherwise similar to P.11a. After P.11c had been developed, the Romanians decided to buy a licence and produce the new model at IAR factory. As a result, from 1936 IAR built 70 aircraft as IAR P.11f with the slightly updated 9Krse of 610 hp. The Romanians then produced another Polish fighter, PZL P.24, developed from P.11 exclusively for export. Some other countries were interested in buying P.11, but finally Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey bought P.24 instead. The Romanian Airforce contains about 100 MIG 21 Lancers, modernized in Israel in 1997, as well as a number of Hercules C130 transport planes and cca. ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) is a leap year starting on Friday. ... The PZL P.24 was a Polish fighter aircraft, designed in mid-1930s in the PZL factory in Warsaw. ...

When P.11 entered service in 1934 it was arguably the most advanced fighter in the world. However, due to the quick progress in aircraft technology, they were obsolete by 1939. Unfortunately, they remained the only Polish fighters in service, totalling about 185, distributed within six air regiments and the aviation school in Deblin. Although they were aware that the P.11 was outdated, the Polish Air Force had pinned their hopes on the new PZL P.50 Jastrzab, which suffered extended delays. When it became apparent that the P.50 would not be in widespread service in time for a war that was clearly looming, consideration was given to producing an updated version with the 840 hp (626 kW) Mercury VIII and an enclosed cockpit, known as the P.11g Kobuz. Only the prototype of P.11g was flown before the war, in August 1939, increasing maximum speed to a still-slow 390 km/h. 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Combat use

At the outbreak of the World War II, on September 1, 1939, the Polish Air Force had 109 PZL P.11c and 20 P.11a (and 30 P.7a) in combat units. Further 43 P.11c were in reserve or undergoing repairs. Only a third of P.11c were armed with 4 machineguns, the rest had only 2, even fewer had a radio. P.11 were used in 12 squadrons, each with 10 aircraft (two squadrons constituted a group, in Polish: dywizjon). Two groups - 4 squadrons - were in the Pursuit Brigade deployed around Warsaw, the rest were assigned to Armies. All of them took part in the Polish September Campaign. Apart from combat units, several P.11, including a prototype P.11g, were used in units improvised at air bases. Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the globe and is accepted as the largest and deadliest... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Flag of the Polish Air Force Polish Air Force (SiÅ‚y Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, Sily Powietrzne RP) - the Air Force of Poland. ... The PZL P.7 was the Polish fighter aircraft, designed in early-1930s in the PZL factory in Warsaw. ... Motto: Contemnit procellas (It defies the storms) Semper invicta (Always invincible) Voivodship Masovian Municipal government Mayor MirosÅ‚aw Kochalski (acting) Area 516,9 km² Population  - city  - urban  - density 1,692,900 (2004) 2,400,000 3258/km² Founded City rights 13th century turn of the 13th century Latitude Longitude 52... Combatants Poland Germany, Slovakia Soviet Union Commanders Edward Rydz-ÅšmigÅ‚y Fedor von Bock (Army Group North) Gerd von Rundstedt (Army Group South) Strength 39 divisions, 16 brigades 1 million soldiers[3] 4,300 guns 880 tanks 400 aircraft 56 divisions, 4 brigades 1. ...

By September 1, the fighter squadrons had been deployed to remote airfields, so they were not bombed by the Germans. During the campaign, P.11 fought against more modern German bombers and fighters. Not only were the German Bf 109 and Bf 110 faster and better armed, but also most German bombers were faster than P.11c as well. Since the planes were intensively used, their maximum speed was still lower than the theoretical 375 km/h. P.11a were in an even worse situation. Another serious defficiency was their small number which meant that missions involving groups larger than about 20 planes were rarely accomplished and reserve maschines were practically unavailable. (Bf 109 was the official Reichsluftfahrtministerium designation, though some late-war aircraft actually carried the Me 109 designation stamped onto their aircraft type plates. ... (Bf 109 was the official Reichsluftfahrtministerium designation, though some late-war aircraft actually carried the Me 109 designation stamped onto their aircraft type plates. ...

On the other hand, Polish planes had better maneouvreability and because of its design it had much better vision, from the cockpit, than the German planes. P.11 had a strong construction and also could operate from short fields, even rough ones. It was also of a very durable construction and could dive at up to 600 km/h without risk of the wings falling apart. Theoretically the only limit in maneouvres was the pilots ability to sustain high G forces. Despite the German superiority, P.11 managed to shoot down a considerable number of German aircraft, including fighters, but suffered heavy losses as well. The exact numbers are not fully verified, but it appears that at least one German plane shot down for each P.11 lost (a figure of 141 German planes is often given as compared with 118 planes lost). g (also gee, g-force or g-load) is a non-SI unit of acceleration defined as exactly 9. ...

The first aircraft shot down in World War II, on September 1 at dawn, was a PZL P.11c of Capt. Mieczysław Medwecki shot down by a German Ju 87. The first Allied air victory was achieved 20 minutes later by Medwecki's wingman, Wladyslaw Gnys who shot down two Dornier Do 17E with his P.11c. It was also the first airplane to successfully ram an enemy plane in WWII. The first large air battle of World War II took place in the early morning of September 1 over the city of Nieporet in North-Western Poland when a German bomber group of about 70 Heinkel He 111 and Dornier Do 17 was intercepted by some 20 P-11 and 10 P-7 fighters and had to abandon their mission on Warsaw. Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the globe and is accepted as the largest and deadliest... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... Junkers Ju 87 Dive-Bombers The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was the most famous Sturzkampfflugzeug (German dive bomber) in World War II, instantly recognisable by its inverted gull wings and fixed undercarriage. ... WÅ‚adysÅ‚aw GnyÅ› WÅ‚adysÅ‚aw GnyÅ› (b. ... The Dornier Do 17, sometimes referred to as the Bleistift (pencil), was a World War II light bomber produced by Dornier that was used at the beginning of the war by the Luftwaffe. ... Sharma Ram (disambiguation) Ram Sharma is an amazing, talented teenager that lives in Canada His talents include rapping, comedy, and cooking He is bound to success! ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the globe and is accepted as the largest and deadliest... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the globe and is accepted as the largest and deadliest... The Heinkel He 111 was the primary Luftwaffe medium bomber during the early stages of World War II, and is perhaps the most obvious symbol of the German side of the Battle of Britain. ... The Dornier Do 17, sometimes referred to as the Bleistift (pencil), was a World War II light bomber produced by Dornier that was used at the beginning of the war by the Luftwaffe. ...

Most of P.11 were destroyed in 1939. 36 were withdrawn to Romania and were taken over by the Romanian Air Force. They were not used in combat, due to their obsolescence, and only small number was used for training while the rest were dismantled for spare parts. Some planes were used by the Germans for training. Two PZL P.11 were captured by the Red Army and used for testing. One landed in Hungary and was used as a glider towing plane by the University of Technology in Budapest. 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Red Army flag The short forms Red Army and RKKA refer to the Workers and Peasants Red Army, (Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия - Raboche-Krestyanskaya Krasnaya Armiya in Russian), the armed forces organised by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War in 1918. ... Gliders are heavier-than-air aircraft primarily intended for un-powered flight. ... Nickname: Pearl or Queen of the Danube Motto: {{{motto}}} Official website: www. ...

Technical description

The aircraft was conventional in layout, with high wings, all-metal, metal-covered. The cockpit was open. An internal fuel tank in a hull could be dropped in case of fire emergency. The armament was two 7.92mm machineguns on hull sides, some 1/3 of P.11c had additional two machineguns in wings. P-11c could carry four small 12.5 kg bombs (P.11a could not). The radial engines used were: P-11a: Bristol Mercury IV S2 (normal: 525 hp, maximum: 575 hp); P-11b: Gnome-Rhone 9Krsd (550 hp, max: 595 hp), P.11c: Bristol Mercury V S2 (565 hp, max: 600 hp) or Mercury VI S2 (590 hp, max: 630 hp), P.11f: Gnome-Rhone 9Krse (560 hp, max: 610 hp).

Note: the horsepower data of engines differ in publications.

Specifications (variant described)

General characteristics

• Crew:
• Capacity:
• Length: m ( ft)
• Wingspan: m ( ft)
• Height: m ( ft)
• Wing area: m² ( ft²)
• Empty: kg ( lb)
• Loaded: kg ( lb)
• Maximum takeoff: kg ( lb)
• Powerplant: Engine type(s), kN (lbf) thrust or
• Powerplant: Engine type(s), kW ( hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: km/h ( mph)
• Range: km ( miles)
• Service ceiling: m ( ft)
• Rate of climb: m/min ( ft/min)
• Wing loading: kg/m² ( lb/ft²)
• Thrust/weight: or
• Power/mass:

External link

• Recorded sound of the Bristol Mercury VI engine used in PZL P.11c (mp3 format)

The PZL P.11 was the Polish fighter aircraft, designed in early-1930s in the PZL factory in Warsaw. ... The PZL P.7 was the Polish fighter aircraft, designed in early-1930s in the PZL factory in Warsaw. ... The PZL P.24 was a Polish fighter aircraft, designed in mid-1930s in the PZL factory in Warsaw. ... IAR 80 on patrol The IAR 80 was a Romanian World War II lightly armed, short-range fighter aircraft of low-wing, monoplane, all-metal construction. ... The Ikarus IK-2 was a high-wing, all metal, single seat, monoplane fighter aircraft of indigenous design built for the Yugoslav Air Force. ... The Polikarpov I-15 Чайка Seagull was a Soviet fighter aircraft that first flew in October 1933 by V.P.Chkalov. ... The PZL P.7 was the Polish fighter aircraft, designed in early-1930s in the PZL factory in Warsaw. ... A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for attacking other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed to attack ground targets, primarily by dropping bombs. ...