SZD-30 Pirat

SZD-30 Pirat
SZD-30 Pirat at EPSU, August 2007
Role	Club-class, formerly Standard-class sailplane
National origin	Poland
Manufacturer	PZL Bielsko
Designer	Jerzy Smielkiewicz
First flight	19 May 1966
Introduction	1967
Number built	776 (1967-1980)
|} The SZD-30 Pirat is a single-seat multi-purpose glider aircraft from the Polish firm PZL Bielsko, which first flew in 1966 and was produced beginning in 1967. Development The SZD-30 is of wooden construction. The high-mounted wing incorporates air brakes on both upper and lower surfaces. The inner section of the wing is constant-chord and the outer section is tapered. The forward section of the otherwise all-wood fuselage is made of fiberglass. The single-wheel main landing gear is fixed. The formed one-piece canopy is side-mounted. The fuselage can be equipped with radios and oxygen system. There are two baggage compartments. Water ballast is not available. Variants SZD-30 - initial production version, with fully balanced ailerons SZD-30B - a single prototype SZD-30C - later production version, with smaller partially balanced ailerons of fiberglass, and larger cockpit. The first -30C flew on 10 January 1978. Specifications SZD-30 Pirat General characteristics Crew: 1 Length: 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in) Wingspan: 15.00 m (49 ft 3 in) Height: 0.96 m (3 ft 2 in) Wing area: 13.8 m^2 (148.5 ft^2) Aspect ratio: 16.3 Wing profile: FX-61-168/60-1261 Empty weight: 260 kg (573 lb) Gross weight: 370 kg (816 lb) Performance Maximum speed: 250 km/h (155 mph) Maximum glide ratio: 33 Rate of sink: 0.7 m/s (138 ft/min) Operational Limitations In 2011, following a number of cases of glue failure in wooden joints leading to structural failure, the type certificate holder issued a bulletin which reduces a number of the limiting speeds of the aircraft. Specifically, the maximum speed (VNE) is reduced to 195 km/h (121 mph, 105 knots) and aerobatic flight is prohibited. References Sailplane Directory