RWD 16
title: "RWD 16" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1930s-polish-sport-aircraft", "rwd-aircraft", "low-wing-aircraft", "single-engined-tractor-aircraft", "aircraft-first-flown-in-1936"] topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RWD_16" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | RWD-16 |
| image | RWD 16.jpg |
| caption | RWD-16 in its initial shape |
| aircraft_type | Sports plane |
| national_origin | Poland |
| manufacturer | DWL |
| designer | RWD team |
| status | prototype |
| primary_user | Poland |
| number_built | 1 |
| first_flight | 1936 |
| variants | RWD-16bis |
| :: |
| name = RWD-16 | logo = | logo_size = | image = RWD 16.jpg | alt = | caption = RWD-16 in its initial shape | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Sports plane | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = Poland | manufacturer = DWL | design_group = | designer = RWD team | builder = | issuer = | status = prototype | owners = | primary_user = Poland | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 1 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 1936 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = RWD-16bis | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded =
The RWD-16 was a Polish two-seat low-wing sports plane of 1936, constructed by the RWD team, that remained a prototype.
Development
The aircraft was designed in 1935 by Andrzej Anczutin of the RWD bureau, as a light and economical sports plane. The plane was a wooden low-wing monoplane, with two seats side-by-side in a closed cockpit, powered by 50 hp Walter Mikron I straight engine.
The prototype was built and first flown in early 1936 (registration SP-AXY), funded by the Polish division of Osram factory. The plane did not appear a successful design, though. Test revealed lack of directional stability, therefore its rudder was much enlarged, the wings were fitted with fixed slats and a windshield was redesigned. It did not improve the situation much, and in 1937-1938 the prototype was rebuilt and fitted with stronger 60 hp Avia 3 engine in a lengthened nose, while the vertical stabilizer and rudder were made smaller. Most significant feature became a front windshield with a negative slope.
After final changes, the prototype still was not satisfactory, but it served as a basis for the RWD-16bis design, which was a new, redesigned aircraft, produced as the RWD-21. The prototype RWD-16 was given then to a known touring aviator Zbigniew Babiński.
Description
Wooden construction low-wing cantilever monoplane, conventional in layout, with a fixed landing gear and a closed cockpit. The fuselage was semi-monocoque, plywood-covered. Single-piece trapezoid wings with rounded tips, two-spar, plywood (in front) and canvas covered. Conventional cantilever empennage, plywood (fins) and canvas (elevators and rudder) covered. Two seats side-by-side, with twin controls, under a common canopy, with a fixed windshield. Conventional fixed landing gear with a rear skid.
50 hp Walter Mikron I inline engine in front, with two-blade wooden propeller Szomański, 1.8 m diameter. In later variant, 60 hp Avia 3 inline engine was installed.
Specifications (RWD 16bis)
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Walter_Mikron_a_RWD_16_(1936).jpg" caption="Walter Mikron a RWD-16 (1936)"] ::
|ref=Polish aircraft 1893-1939, Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893–1939 |prime units?=met General characteristics
|crew=1 |capacity=1 |length m=7.8 |length note= |span m=11 |span note= |height m=2.27 |height note= |wing area sqm=14.9 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil=root: Warsaw Aerodynamic Institute 16%; tip: Warsaw Aerodynamic Institute 10% |empty weight kg=385 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=615 |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity=73 L in a centre-section tank; 7 L oil |more general= Powerplant
|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Avia 3 |eng1 type=4-cylinder inverted air-cooled in-line piston engine |eng1 hp=60-64 |eng1 note=
::::or Walter Mikron
|prop blade number=2 |prop name=Szomański |prop dia m=1.75 |prop dia note=fixed-pitch wooden propeller Performance
|max speed kmh=180 |max speed note=at sea level |cruise speed kmh=155 |cruise speed note=
- Landing speed: 70 km/h |stall speed kmh= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed note= |range km=700 |range note= |ferry range km= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling m=4150 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |climb rate ms= |climb rate note= |time to altitude=1000 m in 6 minutes 30 seconds |wing loading kg/m2=41.5 |wing loading note= |fuel consumption kg/km= |power/mass=0.0467 hp/lb |more performance=
- Take-off run: m
- Take-off run to 15 m: m
- Landing run: m
- Landing run from 15 m: m--
References
References
- Glass, A., op.cit., p. 322-323.
- (1971). "Polish aircraft 1893-1939". Putnam.
- (1977). "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893–1939". WKiŁ.
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