avia.wikisort.org - Glider

The SZD-36 Cobra was a glider designed and produced in Poland from 1968.

SZD-36 Cobra
SZD-36 Cobra
Role	Glider aircraft Type of aircraft
National origin	Poland
Designer	W. Okarmus, A. Meus und M. Mikuszewski.
First flight	31 December 1969
Number built	290 x SZD-36 Cobra + 2 x SZD-39 Cobra 17
Developed from	SZD-32A Foka 5

Development

The SZD-36 was the penultimate iteration of the SZD-24 Foka, with improved construction techniques and materials and many detail changes over the Foka 5. The aircraft was designed especially for the 1970 World Gliding Championships at Marfa, Texas, where J. Wroblewski took 2nd and F. Kępka took 3rd places in the Standard Class behind a Rolladen-Schneider LS1. The Cobra also proved popular with ordinary pilots resulting in a long production run of 290, of which 215 were exported.

To compete in the Open class at Marfa in 1970, W. Okramus and M. Mikuszewski developed a 17m span version as the SZD-39 Cobra 17, which took 5th place flown by Edward Makula.

Construction was predominantly of wood with plywood skinned semi-monocoque fuselage, thick skinned built up wings, and fibreglass cockpit shell. With high g limits, high V_ne and effective speed limiting air-brakes on the upper surface of the wings, the SZD-36 Cobra is popular as an aerobatic machine. There have been cases of catastrophic structural failure due to incorrect wing attachment, caused ultimately by worn parts in the attachment assemblies.

Safety Concern

Following a fatal accident due to failure of the wing attachment mechanism in 2007 [1] and another fatality with a glider with similar assembly mechanism,[2] the British Gliding Association has issued a Safety Alert for owners of Cobra gliders.[3]

Variants

SZD-36 Cobra

Developed from the SZD-32A Foka 5, a 15m Standard Class sailplane developed for the 1970 World championships. 290 built[4]

SZD-39 Cobra 17

A 17m span version of the Cobra developed for the 1970 World Gliding Championships in the Open Class, first flown on 17 March 1970. Two were built.[5]

Specifications (SZD-36 Cobra)

Data from http://www.piotrp.de/SZYBOWCE/dszd36.htm

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 6.98 m (22 ft 11 in)
• Wingspan: 15 m (49 ft 2.5 in)
• Height: 1.59 m (5 ft 2.5 in)
• Wing area: 11.6 m² (124.9 sq ft)
• Aspect ratio: 19.4
• Airfoil: FX 61-168 - FX 60-1261
• Empty weight: 275 kg (606 lb)
• Gross weight: 405 kg (893 lb)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 250 km/h (155.3 mph, 135.0 kn)
• Stall speed: 67 km/h (41.6 mph, 36.1 kn)
• g limits: +6 / -3
• Maximum glide ratio: 38 @ 97 km/h, 60.3 mph
• Rate of sink: 0.72 m/s (142 ft/min) at 73 km/h (45 mph)

References

Citations

Bibliography

На других языках

---

[de] PZL Bielsko SZD-36

Bei der PZL Bielsko SZD-36 Cobra 15 handelt es sich um ein einsitziges Hochleistungssegelflugzeug, das vorwiegend für Training und Wettkämpfe in der 15-m-Standardklasse eingesetzt wurde. Die Abkürzung SZD (Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny) bedeutet übersetzt „Segelflugzeug-Entwicklungswerk“.

---

- [en] SZD-36 Cobra 15

---

[fr] PZL Bielsko SZD-36

Le planeur SZD-36 Cobra a été conçu par Okarmus et Mynarski pour le Championnat mondial des planeurs de 1970. Il en a été fabriqué 800, en Pologne, dans les usines de PZL-Bielsko. Il est basé sur le modèle précédent, le SZD-32 Foka 5, mais avec une roue rétractable et une aile à écoulement laminaire pour une meilleure finesse du profil. Le Cobra se plaça second et troisième lors du championnat de 1970. Il est très résistant et est toujours employé comme un avion de démonstration acrobatique.

---

---