Poland's PZL P.11, fighter^1,2

PZL P.11c fighter:

Design

The PZL P.11 was designed by Zygmunt Pulawski.^1,2

Cockpit

The cockpit was small, unarmored, and only provided a small windscreen.¹

Engine

The first engine used in the P.11 was the Gnome-Rhône radial.¹ This was replaced by a license built British Mercury VIS.¹

Undercarriage

The fixed undercarriage of the P.11 was fixed, but very strong.¹

The tail was a spring loaded skid.¹

Wing

The high parasol wing was innovative when it came into production.^1,2 This allowed the P.11 pilots to outmaneuver the less agile German aircraft.¹

Prototype

The PZL P.11 first flew in September 1931.^1,2

Production

The first production version was the P.11b.¹

• P-7: 153²
• Total: 300², 330¹

Variants

• P-7: Had Skoda built Bristol Jupiter VIIF (485 HP) engine.² Could go 170 mph / 274 kph.²
• P-7a: Entered service in 1932 - 1933.²
• P.11:
• P.11a: Had Skoda built Bristol Mercury VI engine.²
• P.11b: First production version with two guns.^1,2 Entered service in 1935.¹ Had IAR built Gnome-Rhône 9K (525 HP) engine.²
• P.11c: Had Skoda built Bristol Mercury VIS.2 engine.²
• P.11f: Romanian built version.¹ Had Gnome-Rhône 9Krse engine.²
• P.24: Improved version that was only made for export.¹

Usage

Against Germany

Outnumbered and up against better aircraft the PZL P.11s helped shoot down 126 German aircraft.¹

There were six regiments that had 128 P.11s.^1,2 Within three days they lost 46.^1,2

Romania

Romania imported 50 P.11bs.¹

IAR in Bucharest built 120 P.11fs of their own.¹

Sources:

1. Aircraft of World War II, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
2. Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995