The SZD-22 Mucha Standard (Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny – Glider Experimental Works) was a single-seat aerobatic glider designed and built in Poland from 1957.
Development
Developed especially for the 1958 World Gliding Championships, the SZD-22 Mucha Standard was a direct descendant of the IS-2 Mucha (Fly), from 1948, and SZD-12 Mucha 100, from 1953, with very similar lines and dimensions. The Mucha Standard was designed to the new Standard class rules which discarded the old Olympic 15-15-15 Span, Aspect Ratio, Area rule.[1]
The first flight of the SZD-22 took place at Bielsko with Adam Zientek at the controls on 10 February 1958.[2] It was followed by the second prototype in June 1958. Flight trials were successful, leading to a long production run with six variants, which introduced various modifications.
Built primarily of wood, the SZD-22 had airbrakes in the wings, a streamline cockpit canopy, short nose and tail skids with a single mainwheel. The SZD-22C model replaced the plywood covering of the wings with fabric and some models had provision for water ballast in rubber bags fitted to the wing roots.[1] Most of SZD-22s – 271, were built in ZSLS in Krosno.[2]
Many SZD-22's, mostly SZD-22C models, were exported to the Great Britain, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Yugoslavia, Mexico, Norway, West Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, USA, Hungary and Italy[1]
Adam Witek flew the SZD-22 Mucha Standard to first place in the Standard class at the 1958 World Gliding Championships at Leszno in Poland.[1]
Variants
SZD-22 Mucha Standard – The initial prototype of the SZD-22 series (reg'n no. SP-1748).
SZD-22A Mucha Standard – Initial production version, 8 built in Bielsko.
SZD-22B Mucha Standard – Provision for water ballast in rubber bags, 40 built in Krosno.
SZD-22C Mucha Standard – Fabric covered wings + provision for water ballast in rubber bags, main production variant.
SZD-22D Mucha Standard – Modified skid and mainwheel (1 built).[1]
SZD-22E Mucha Standard – Variant with a new wing (1 built).[2]
Specifications (SZD-22A Mucha Standard)
Data fromThe World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II[3]SZD-22 Mucha Standard[1]
^ abcBabiejczuk, Janusz; Grzegorzewski, Jerzy (1974). Polski przemysł lotniczy 1945-1973 [Polish aerospace industry 1945-1973] (in Polish). Warsaw: Wydawnictwo MON. pp. 123–124.
^Shenstone, B.S.; K.G. Wilkinson (1963). The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II (in English, French, and German) (1st ed.). Zurich: Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol a Voile (OSTIV) and Schweizer Aero-Revue. pp. 34–36.
References
Shenstone, B.S.; K.G. Wilkinson (1963). The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde Volume II (in English, French, and German) (1st ed.). Zurich: Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol a Voile (OSTIV) and Schweizer Aero-Revue. pp. 34–36.
Pietchowski, Piotr. "SZD-22 Mucha Standard" (in Polish). www.piotrp.de. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
Babiejczuk, Janusz; Grzegorzewski, Jerzy (1974). Polski przemysł lotniczy 1945-1973 [Polish aerospace industry 1945-1973] (in Polish). Warsaw: Wydawnictwo MON. pp. 124–125.
Further reading
Taylor, J. H. (ed) (1989) Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. Studio Editions: London. p. 29
Coates, Andrew. "Jane's World Sailplanes & Motor Gliders new edition". London, Jane's. 1980. ISBN0-7106-0017-8
