LWD Żuraw
Lotnicze Warsztaty Doświadczalne · Poland · first flew 1951 · light aircraft
The LWD Zuraw (Crane) was a Polish utility and liaison aircraft prototype of 1951, a high-wing monoplane with a single engine that did not enter production.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.26 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High-wing monoplane with wings slightly swept forward
- Unusual triple tail with two small vertical stabilisers beside the main central one
- Single radial engine, with slats and flaps on the wings
Look for a high-wing monoplane with slightly forward-swept wings, slats and flaps, and a triple tail with two small extra vertical stabilisers.
Specifications
- The LWD Żuraw has a length of 8.26 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.7 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 175 km/h (109 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was designed in 1949 by LWD as a utility and liaison aircraft for the Polish Air Force, with Tadeusz Soltyk as chief designer. The prototype first flew on 16 May 1951, powered by a licence-built Shvetsov M-11FR radial engine that proved too weak.
Variants
Only one prototype was built. A more powerful WN-3 or Ivchenko AI-14 engine was considered, but the design was abandoned.
Where you'll see it
The prototype was not used by the Polish Air Force; it went to the Aviation Institute for certification trials and was withdrawn in 1960. It is now in the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow in a damaged condition.
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