RWD 21
Doświadczalne Warsztaty Lotnicze · Poland · first flew 1939 · light aircraft
The RWD 21 was a Polish two-seat low-wing touring and sports plane of the late 1930s, built by the RWD bureau. It shared its construction with the RWD 16bis, its main difference being a stronger engine.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.4 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low-wing cantilever wooden monoplane with trapezoid wings and rounded tips
- Two seats side by side under a canopy with a fixed windshield
- Fixed landing gear with the main wheels in covers
The fuselage is semi-monocoque and plywood covered, with a four-cylinder inline engine driving a two-blade wooden propeller.
Specifications
- The RWD 21 has a length of 8.4 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 210 km/h (130 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The RWD 21 was a development of the RWD 16bis with a 90 hp Cirrus Minor engine and minor changes, mostly to the canopy. The prototype, SP-BPE, flew in February 1939.
Variants
The RWD 16bis had a weaker engine. An order for ten RWD 21s was placed, and at least six were completed before the war.
Where you'll see it
In September 1939 two were evacuated to Romania. One of them was used there and then returned to Poland after the war, flying until the mid-1950s; it is preserved in the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków.
Related aircraft
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