PZL P.7

History

The Polish PZL "P. 7" is considered one of the best examples of a single-seat, single-engine fighter of the interwar period, possessing the following seminal qualities: full Metal structure and improved cockpit visibility, the latter thanks to the effective implementation of the main aircraft element of the "gull-shaped" wing.

Designed from an early PZL-built radial-drive "P. 6" fighter jet and first flown in October 1930, the type was mass-produced from 1932 to 1933, resulting in 149 operational examples and two prototypes as the sound of the design. prove.

Although it was outdated at the start of World War II (1939-1945), the Poles still used the fighter during their heroic (albeit ultimately unsuccessful) defense of Poland during the German invasion of 1939.

The P.7 owes its existence to the original work of engineer Zygmunt Pulawksi, who developed plans for the modern all-metal fighter, which became the inline-powered "P.1" in 1929 (both built by PZL). Although work never went beyond prototype form, work led to the evolution of the 1930 P.6 - a design that topped the 1931 National Air Race.

Even before the dust settled on the non-series production P. 6, the P. 7 consisted of an existing movement. Air-cooled radial piston engines (Jupiter VIIF, UK) were used again and the main aircraft elements of the wings were retained. As expected, the double-spar gull wings were supported on the sides of the fuselage and provided excellent drag and lift performance.

The aircraft features an open-air cockpit for its single crew, a single-blade empennage mounted on a common tail, and two-wheel trailing undercarriage.

The Jupiter VIIF engine delivers more power than previous iterations and features an integrated supercharger for improved high-altitude performance in thin air. This unit drives a two-bladed propeller on the nose. The original cylinder head of the first "P.7/I" prototype was repainted into a town ring shape, which aided aerodynamics and resulted in a reduction in the tail area being implemented.

These changes produced a second prototype, known as the "P. 7/II", which appeared in 1931.

This was the second prototype tried and accepted by the Polish Air Force, officially designated "P. 7a". By this time, the design had increased wing area for added stability. Service deliveries were all completed in 1932 (the first example of Kosciusko squadron) and entered service in 1933 - the line as PWS-A (licensed Avia BH-33) and PWS-10 fighter fleet 's successor.

This made the Polish Air Force the first service to have an all-metal fighter fleet, as the P.7 formed the service's 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Aviation Regiments.

Dimensions of the P. 7a include a length of 23.5 feet, a wingspan of 33.9 feet, and a height of 9 feet. Curb weight is 2,230 lbs and maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is 3,105 lbs.

The air-cooled VIIF 9-cylinder radial piston engine from the Skoda factory in Poland (Jupiter) has a performance of 527 hp at takeoff, a maximum possible speed of 197 mph, a range of up to 350 miles, and a service ceiling of up to 27,150 feet.

Moderately armament, centred on 2 x 7.9mm Vickers E machine guns. These jam-prone guns were later replaced by the more modern local Karabin Maznovi wz. 33 series machine guns.

Back in 1935, the design was considered obsolete given the advanced technology and offers of competitors in regions such as Germany. This led to the development and subsequent launch of the PZL "P.11" fighter, which replaced the P.7 on the front lines of the Polish Air Force, whose status has since been relegated to flight trainer status.

These are still available during the German invasion and are used in all required roles in wartime. While claiming to have some enemy aircraft and proving maneuverability even against more modern types, the line excels in large part due to limited power and armament.

P. 7 specimens that could not escape to neighboring Romania before the fall of Poland were destroyed in the air or on the ground where they rested - all survivors were used as trainers by the victorious Germans. Romanian P.7a fighter jets were used by the Axis Allied Romanians in a limited capacity, i.e. for training, and the invading Soviets likewise continued to claim some of their own working examples of the P.7a as good training roles .

Specification

BASICS

Year of Service

1933

Origins

Poland

Status

retirement

does not work.

Crew

1

Production

151

Manufacturer

Panstwowe Zaklady Lotnicze (PZL) Poland

Operator

Nazi Germany (captured); Poland; Romania (captured); Soviet Union (captured)

scrolling

air-to-air combat, fighter

The general ability to actively attack other aircraft of similar form and function, usually using guns, missiles and/or airborne missiles.

Intercept

The ability to intercept incoming airborne threats with high performance, usually speed and rate of climb.

Education (General)

Develop the ability to become a dedicated student pilot instructor (usually under the supervision of an instructor).

Training (Advanced)

A special advanced training platform for student pilots after completing basic flight training.

Dimensions and Weight

Length

23.5 feet

(7.15m)

Width/span

33.8 feet

(10.30m)

Height

9.0ft

(2.75m)

Cured weight

2,227 lbs

(1,010 kg)

MTOW

3,109 lbs

(1,410 kg)

Wgt Difference

+882 lbs

(+400 kg)

Performance

Installed:

1 x Jupiter VIIF 527 hp 9-cylinder radial-piston air-cooled engine, built at the Skoda factory in Poland (Bristol), driving a twin-blade propeller unit on the nose.

Maximum speed

199 km/h

(320 km/h | 173 kn)

Maximum

27,149 feet

(8,275 m | 5 km)

Area

348 km

(560 km | 1,037 nautical miles)

rate of climb

2,375 ft/min

(724 m/min)

Range (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: > 19030

Weapon

Original: 2 x 7.9mm Vickers E-type machine guns mounted on fixed forward firing brackets on the nose, synchronised firing via rotating propeller blades. Late: 2 x 7.9mm carbine Maszynowy wz.

The 33 machine guns were mounted on fixed forward brackets above the nose and fired synchronously through rotating propeller blades.