PWS-40 Junak
Podlaska Wytwornia Samolotow · Poland · first flew 1939 · light aircraft
The PWS-40 Junak was a Polish two-seat trainer of the 1930s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.3 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low-wing monoplane of wooden construction with a trapezoidal wing
- Two open cockpits
- Fixed undercarriage
The wing is covered with plywood and canvas, and the fuselage is plywood-covered.
Specifications
- The PWS-40 Junak has a length of 7.3 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.2 m (33 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 170 km/h (106 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It grew from a simple trainer designed by Antoni Zagorski and Jerzy Zbrozek, which was sold to PWS in early 1938. The prototype was test-flown in late April 1939 with a 60 hp engine.
Variants
PWS was working on a modernised version with a 236 to 296 hp engine, smaller span, flaps and retractable landing gear, and an armed fighter-trainer.
Where you'll see it
It was to become the standard trainer of the fighter pilot schools of the Polish Air Force. Only the prototype was completed because of the outbreak of war, and it was captured intact by the Germans.
Related aircraft
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