RWD 1
RWD · Poland · first flew 1928 · light aircraft
The RWD 1 was a Polish sports plane of 1928, a single-engine high-wing monoplane constructed by the RWD design team. It was the first aircraft built by Stanisław Rogalski, Stanisław Wigura and Jerzy Drzewiecki.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | High-wing cantilever monoplane with a fish-shaped fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High-wing cantilever monoplane with a fish-shaped fuselage
- Two crew sit in tandem with openings at the sides of the upper fuselage
- Fuselage top supports the wing and limits the pilot forward view
It has a unique fish-shaped plywood-covered fuselage and a single-spar trapezoid wing, with a 40 hp ABC Scorpion boxer engine in front. The two crew sit in tandem with openings in the sides of the upper fuselage.
Specifications
- The RWD 1 has a length of 6 m (20 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.8 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 135 km/h (84 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was designed in late 1927 and built with financial help from the LOPP organisation. One prototype was built for static trials and one flying prototype, registered SP-ACC, was completed and flown by Jerzy Drzewiecki in September 1928.
Variants
Only the flying prototype and a static-test prototype were built. The design was not built in quantities but led to the RWD 2, RWD 3, RWD 4, RWD 7 and, in part, the RWD 5.
Where you'll see it
The prototype took part in the 2nd Polish Light Aircraft Contest in 1928 but did not complete it because of an engine breakdown. In 1929 it took part in an air rally around Poland, and it was scrapped in the winter of 1929/1930.
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