Air Weapons

Fighter (1933)

PZL

P.11

Designed by the brilliant Zygmund Pulaski, the PZL P.11 was a gull-winged monoplane fighter built at a time when most countries were still devoted to the biplane. Unfortunately, Pulaski was killed in a crash and replaced by W. Jakimiuk yet still the P.11 eventually entered service during the second half of the decade where it was the mainstay of what was one of the largest and most powerful air forces in Europe at the time. Sadly, and despite a number of improvements throughout its service life, the P.11 found itself hopeless outclassed by more modern German fighters like the Bf 109 but that did not stop them from performing a gallant defense after the outbreak of war where 12 squadrons manged to destroy 125 Luftwaffe aircraft at a cost of 114 of their own. Many were exported to Bulgaria and Greece with local production undertaken in Romania.

First flight of the prototype P.11/I powered by Gnome-Rhône enignes took place in August 1931, these were followed by two more prototypes and then the production P.11a, the P.11b (for Romania), and the improved P.11c which featured additional guns, a revised fuselage, raised pilot's seat, and lowered engine which improved visibility. Production was reinstated in 1939 on the verge of the German invasion, new variants were known as the P.11g with more powerful engines. Finally, Romanian aircraft built by IAR were known as the P.11f.

Preceded by:

None

Succeeded by:

None

Datafile

DesignP.11c
TypeFighter
Year1934
Crew1
Dimensions
Length7.55 m
Height2.850 m
Wing Span10.72 m
Wing Arean/a
Weight
Empty1,147 kg
Maximum1,800 kg
Wing Loading100.6 kg/m²
Performance
Speed390 km/h
Ceiling8,000 m
Range700 km
Powerplant
Engine1 x Mercury VIS2
PZL
481 kW
Thrust/Weight0.51
Armament
Guns4 x 7.7-mm
Payload50 kg
Production
Built175
Total258