PZL.43
PZL · Poland · first flew 1937 · bomber
The PZL.43 was a Polish single-engine light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft developed as an improved export version of the PZL.23 Karaś, powered by a French Gnome-Rhône 14K radial engine and featuring the characteristic gull-wing configuration of PZL monoplane designs. Fifty-four were built, primarily for export to Bulgaria.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.95 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Polish light bomber derived from PZL.23 Karaś with gull-wing configuration
- Gnome-Rhône 14K radial engine; 700 kg bomb load under wings
- 54 built; exported to Bulgaria as front-line bomber
A high-wing gull-wing monoplane with a single large radial engine, fixed undercarriage with wheel spats, and a greenhouse-canopy crew compartment. The characteristic Polish gull-wing shape — with the wing angled upward at the root and then levelling off — is the primary recognition feature shared with the Karaś.
Specifications
- The PZL.43 has a length of 9.95 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.95 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 365 km/h (227 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed from 1935 as an export-optimised variant of the PZL.23 Karaś, the PZL.43 incorporated the more powerful Gnome-Rhône engine and various refinements. Bulgaria received the majority of production aircraft, which served as the Bulgarian Air Force's primary bomber into the early 1940s. The type was deployed operationally during Bulgaria's participation in World War II. Poland itself received only a small number before production was overtaken by the German invasion of 1939.
Variants
PZL.43A and PZL.43B sub-variants with different engine marks; the A used the Gnome-Rhône 14Kfis and the B the 14Kirs.
Where you'll see it
Operated primarily by the Bulgarian Air Force from 1937 through World War II; small numbers with the Polish Air Force before September 1939.
Related aircraft
- PZL P.37 Łoś
- PZL PZL.23B Karaś
- PZL PZL.38 Wilk
- PZL PZL.44 Wicher
- Aero A.104
- Amiot 350 family
- Arado Ar 195
- CANT Z.1007 Alcione
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