PZL PZL.44 Wicher
PZL · Poland · first flew 1938 · airliner
The PZL.44 Wicher (Storm) was a Polish twin-engine passenger transport monoplane developed in the late 1930s to modernise LOT Polish Airlines' short-haul routes. It could carry up to ten passengers.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 18.45 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-engine Polish interwar airliner
- High-wing monoplane with spatted fixed undercarriage
- Designed as a short-haul transport for LOT Polish Airlines
High-wing twin-engine monoplane with a notably wide fuselage for its era and spatted, fixed main undercarriage legs; the wing has a pronounced taper toward rounded tips.
Specifications
- The PZL PZL.44 Wicher has a length of 18.45 m (61 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 23.8 m (78 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 360 km/h (224 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The prototype made its first flight in 1938 and showed good performance, but the German invasion of Poland in September 1939 ended any prospect of serial production. Only the prototype had been completed by the time hostilities began.
Variants
A single prototype was built; a projected improved version with more powerful engines never progressed beyond planning.
Where you'll see it
The Wicher never entered revenue service; the sole aircraft was lost or destroyed during the September 1939 campaign.
Related aircraft
- PZL PZL.38 Wilk
- PZL.46 Sum
- PZL PZL.50 Jastrząb
- PZL.43
- Boeing 307 Stratoliner
- Boeing 314 Clipper
- Boeing 314A Clipper
- Renard R.35
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