RWD-14 Czapla (Heron)

RWD-14 Czapla (Heron) History

The RWD-14 "Czapla," designed by Poland's RWD in 1936, was a military aircraft meant for battlefield cooperation. Its tasks included reconnaissance, liaison, and limited air support for friendly troops. With its ability to operate from short runways and rough terrain, the RWD-14 was tailored for battlefield conditions. It entered service in 1939 with the Polish Armed Forces and later saw use by Romania.

Based on the RWD-8 design, the RWD-14 featured high-mounted wings for clear views and a combination of wood and metal construction covered by canvas and plywood. It had a length of 29.5 feet, wingspan of 39 feet, and was powered by a PZL G-1620B engine with a top speed of 153 mph and a range of 420 miles. Armed variants included machine guns for the pilot and observer.

During World War II, the RWD-14 faced challenges against more advanced German fighters and saw limited success. Most were lost in battles, while some were taken by occupying forces. Despite its battlefield cooperation capabilities, the RWD-14's impact was curtailed by the changing dynamics of aerial warfare during the war.

Specification

Base

Year of Service: 1939

Origins: Poland

Status: Retirement

Crew: 2

Production: 69

Manufacturer: RWD (development) / Lublin; Lubelska Wytwprnia Samolotow (LWS, production) - Poland

Operators: Nazi Germany (conquered, not operational); Poland; Romania (captured); Soviet Union (captured, not operational).

Roles

Close Air Support (CAS)

Designed to operate near active ground elements with a wide range of air-to-surface weapon and ammunition options.

Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR), reconnaissance

Monitor ground targets/target areas to assess surrounding threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

Education (General)

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

Training (Basic)

For aerial training, covering the basics of flight, general handling, take-off/landing maneuvers, etc.

Notable Features

Strong Aircraft Frame

The inherent ability of the airframe to take significant damage.

Extended range performance

Ability to travel long distances using on-board fuel supplies.

Rating Process

A manual process to allow the pilot and/or crew to exit in the event of an onboard emergency.

Crew management

In addition to the pilot, the aircraft also employs additional crew members who specialize in specific functions on the aircraft.

Rear gun

Defensive rear-facing gun emplacements to neutralize enemy targets coming from behind.

Camera equipment

Payload supports photographic devices that provide still and/or live image/video results.

Dimensions and Weight

Length: 29.5 feet (9.00m)

Width/span: 39.0 feet (11.90m)

Height: 9.8 feet (3.00m)

Cured weight: 2,701 lbs (1,225 kg)

MTOW: 3,748 lbs (1,700 kg)

Wgt Difference: +1,047 lbs(+475kg)

Main Plane Structure

Monoplane

Designed to use a single main wing main aircraft; this is the most popular arrangement of main aircraft.

Parasol

The main aircraft is mounted above the top line of the fuselage; usually supported by struts or similar structures.

Straight

Floor plans involve the use of simple, straight main plan elements.

Performance

Installed: 1 x PZL G-1620B Mors-II 9-cylinder air-cooled 470 hp radial piston engine driving a twin-bladed front mounted propeller unit.

Maximum speed: 155 km/h (250 km/h | 135 kn)

Cruising speed: 146 km/h (235 km/h | 127 knots)

Maximum speed difference: +9 km/h (+15 km/h | 8 kn)

Maximum: 16,732 feet (5,100 m | 3 km)

Area: 419 km (675 km | 1,250 nautical miles)

Rate of climb: 1,200 ft/min (366 m/min)

Weapon

1 x 7.92mm wz. The 33 machine guns were fixed to the nose and fired forward, synchronised by the rotating propeller blades.

1 x 7.7mm Vickers K machine gun mounted on a flexible bracket in the rear cockpit.