BŻ-1 GIL
Główny Instytut Lotnictwa · Poland · first flew 1950 · helicopter
The BŻ-1 GIL was the first Polish experimental helicopter, constructed in 1950 by the Main Aviation Institute in Warsaw.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Hiller-type rotor with two auxiliary blades
- Tail boom with an auxiliary rotor
- Tricycle undercarriage
It used a re-configured Hirth HM 504 piston engine, a rear gear from a Zündapp motorcycle and wheels from a DFS Kranich glider. The SP-GIL registration gave it the name GIL, Polish for bullfinch.
Specifications
- The BŻ-1 GIL has a length of 8.5 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.8 m (29 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 140 km/h (87 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Work began in 1948 with Bronisław Żurakowski as main designer. It was completed by the end of 1949 and first flew on 4 April 1950, tethered by two men for safety.
Variants
Only one was built, so there were no variants.
Where you'll see it
It underwent a test programme from 1950 to 1953 and was often modified. It saw service until 1960, when it was irreparably damaged and decommissioned; the prototype is in the Polish Aviation Museum.
Related aircraft
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