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Poland's PZL P.11, fighter1,2,3

PZL P.11 fighter:
Poland's PZL P.11 fighter
PZL P.11C fighter3:
Poland's PZL P.11c fighter
   

Design

The PZL P.11 was designed by Zygmunt Pulawski.1,2 The P.11 was based on the PZL P.7 fighter that was first developed in 1930.3

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.1,3

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/I prototype first flew in August 1931.3 The PZL P.11/II prototype first flew in December 1931.3
The PZL P.11 first flew in September 1931.1,2

Production

The P.11a first flew in June 1933.3 The first production version was the P.11b.1

Variants

Usage

The PZL P.11 was used by Poland and Romania.3

Against Germany

Outnumbered and up against better aircraft the PZL P.11s helped shoot down 1253 / 126 German aircraft.1,3

There were six regiments that had 128 P.11s.1,2 Within three days they lost 46.1,2 PZL P.11 units lost a total of 114 of their own fighters.3

Romania

Romania imported 50 P.11bs.1

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

  PZL P.113 PZL P.11a1,3 PZL P.11b3 PZL P.11c1,2,3
Type Fighter3 Fighter1,3 Fighter3 Fighter1,2,3
Crew 13 11,3 13 11,2,3
Engine (Type)   Bristol Mercury1
Skoda Mercury IVS23
Gnome-Rhône 9Krsd Mistral (Juniper)3 PZL Mercury VS23
Skoda Bristol Mercury VIS.2 piston1,2
OR       PZL Mercury VIS23
Cylinders   Radial1, Radial 93 Radial 93 Radial1,2, Radial 93
Cooling        
Net HP   5001, 5753 6703 5001, 6452
VS2: 6003
VIS2: 6453
Propeller blades 23 21,3 23 21,3
Dimensions        
Span       35' 2"1,2,3
10.72 m1,2,3
Length       24' 9"1, 24' 9.25"2,3
7.55 m1,2,3
Height       9' 4"1, 9' 4.25"3, 9' 4.5"2
2.85 m1,2,3
Wing area        
Weight        
Empty       2,529 lb2,3
1,147 kg2,3
Loaded       3,960 lb1, 3,968 lb2,3
1,800 kg1,2,3
Performance        
Speed at sea level       VIS2: 185 mph3
VIS2: 298 kph3
Speed @ 18,000' /
5,500 m
      242 mph1
390 kph1
Speed @ 18,050' /
5,500 m
      242 mph2
VIS2: 242 mph3
390 kph2
VIS2: 389 kph3
Climb       VIS2: 2,440'/minute3
VIS2: 744 m/minute3
Climb to 16,400' /
5,000 m
      6 minutes1
Climb to 16,405' /
5,000 m
      6 minutes2
Service ceiling       26,250'1,2
VIS2: 26,245'3
8,000 m1,2
VIS2: 8,000 m3
Range       435 miles1,2
VIS2: 435 miles3
700 km1,2
VIS2: 700 km3
Armament        
Fuselage   2: MGs1
2: 7.7 mm MG3
2: 7.7 mm MG3 2: 7.7 mm MG3
Under wings       2: 7.7 mm MG3
2: 7.7 mm KM Wz33 MG1,2
Bombs - under wings       110 lb3
50 kg3

Sources:

  1. Aircraft of World War II, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
  2. Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
  3. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
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