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PZL Bielsko SZD-55
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| Type designation |
SZD-55 |
| Competition Class |
Standard |
| Crew |
1 |
| Length |
6.41 m (SZD-55) |
| Height |
1.30 m |
| Cockpit width |
0.55 m (SZD-55) |
| Cockpit height |
0.74 m (SZD-55) |
| Wingspan |
15 m (SZD-55) |
| Wing area |
9.60 m² (SZD-55) |
| Aspect ratio |
23.44 (SZD-55) |
| Wing profile |
NN-27 |
| Empty mass |
ca. 215 kg |
| Water ballast |
195 kg SZD-55 |
| Tail Water ballast |
6 kg SZD-55 |
| Maximum mass |
500 kg (SZD-55) |
| Wing loading |
ca. 32 – 52 kg/m² (SZD-55) |
| Maximum speed |
255 km/h (SZD-55) |
| Rough air speed |
200 km/h (SZD-55) |
| Stall speed |
84 km/h (SZD-55) |
| Minimum sink rate |
ca. 0.68 m/s (SZD-55) |
| Best glide ratio |
approx. 43:1 (Measured by Dick Johson in 1992) |
The PZL Bielsko SZD-55 is a Standard Class sailplane produced by PZL Bielsko since 1988. It was built in direct competition with the Schempp-Hirth Discus. The SZD-55 is still in production with approximately 20 registered in the United States.
The SZD-55 is built of fiberglass and takes advantage of an elliptical wing. It has top surface Schempp-Hirth type spoilers. It is a modern glider with pleasant handling that is easy to assemble, due to automatic controls hookup. With an empty weight of about 215 kg, it is the lightest of the current standard class gliders and is known for its excellent climbing and thermalling characteristics. The SZD-55 has a fairly cambered wing-section and performs well at lower speeds, but with plenty of water ballast (it can take 200 liters) it can can also keep up well at higher speeds.
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