IS-5 Kaczka
Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny · Poland · first flew 1949 · glider
The IS-5 Kaczka (Duck) was a Polish single-seat training glider developed by the Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny (Glider Experimental Works) in the late 1940s. Its very short fuselage gave rise to its distinctive nickname.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Short stubby fuselage earning the nickname Kaczka (Duck) |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unpowered sailplane — no engine
- Polish postwar glider with mid-mounted straight wings
- Short stubby fuselage earning the nickname Kaczka (Duck)
Its extremely short fuselage and disproportionately long straight wing make the Kaczka unmistakeable among postwar Polish gliders.
Specifications
- The IS-5 Kaczka has a length of 4 m (13 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.56 m (38 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed and first flown in 1949, the Kaczka was part of postwar Poland's effort to re-establish glider manufacturing and pilot training. The unusual proportions — long wing relative to its tiny fuselage — made it easily recognisable.
Variants
The IS-5 was a one-off or very small series design; no significant variants are recorded.
Where you'll see it
Used for training within Polish gliding clubs in the early 1950s before being superseded by more conventional designs.
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