PZL-Bielsko SZD-50-3 Puchacz
VFRTrainer
~25/mo
Polish tandem two-seat trainer in glass fibre with a cruciform tail. Approved for aerobatics and well suited to spin training; its airbrakes open above and below the wing and allow very steep approaches.
Units
Performance
- Never-exceed speed (VNE)
- 116 kt
Licence and training
- Licences that cover it
- LAPL(S) · SPL
- Class rating
- Sailplane (winch / aerotow launch)
- Extra training or endorsements
- None beyond the licence and rating.
EASA terms. Other authorities name and split ratings differently.
Flight rules and approvals
- Flight rules
- VFR only
- Approvals
- Aerobatics
Assumes the usual equipment. The aircraft's own documents decide what it may fly.
Type
- Manufacturer
- PZL-Bielsko
- Category
- Glider
- Engines
- No engine
- Wake turbulence category
- L · Light
Weights and capacity
- Max passengers
- 1
- Minimum crew
- 1
- Cockpit seats
- 2
- Max take-off weight (MTOW)
- 570 kg
- Empty weight
- 370 kg
Runway
- Usable surfaces
- Grass · Asphalt
No published runway figures for this type yet.
Cockpit and systems
- Cockpit
- Analog gauges
Scale drawing
TopSideFrontLength 8.38 mWingspan 16.67 mHeight 2.48 m
- Length
- 8.38 m
- Wingspan
- 16.67 m
- Height
- 2.48 m
- Fuselage width
- 0.7 m
Drawn to scale from the published length, span and height; finer shapes are approximate.
Size comparison
- PZL-Bielsko SZD-50-3 PuchaczLength 8.38 m
- Schleicher ASK 21Length 8.35 m
All drawn at one scale. The person is 1.8 m tall.
Speeds
- VBGBest glideFurthest distance per height lost, the speed to fly after an engine failure.
- 46 kt
- VAManoeuvring speedBelow it, a full control deflection will not overstress the airframe (at maximum weight).
- 81 kt
- VNENever exceedNever fly faster than this. Red line.
- 116 kt
Typical published values for the named variant, for learning only. Always fly with the aircraft's own flight manual (POH/AFM).
Fly the PZL-Bielsko SZD-50-3 Puchacz in the simulator
Practise your radio calls with this aircraft type in the AI ATC simulator.
