Lublin R-XIII

The Lublin R‑XIII was a Polish army liaison and observation aircraft produced in the early 1930s by the state‑run factory LWS (Lubelska Wytwórnia Samolotów). Designed by Engineer Zygmunt Brzeziński, it first flew in 1932 and entered service the following year, becoming the standard two‑seat high‑wing monoplane of the Polish Air Force. Its airframe was built of a mixed wood‑metal construction, with a rectangular fuselage, fabric‑covered wings and fixed wide‑track landing gear, which gave the aircraft robustness on rough fields. Powered by a 240 hp Wright Whirlwind J‑5 radial engine, the R‑XIII could reach 180 km/h, climb to 3 000 m and stay aloft for up to five hours, making it suitable for reconnaissance, artillery spotting and courier duties. Over 600 examples were built before World War II, and the type saw extensive use during the 1939 campaign, where its slow speed and limited armament proved a liability against modern fighters, yet its reliability helped Polish units maintain vital communications. The Lublin R‑XIII remains a symbol of Poland’s interwar aviation ambition and a notable example of versatile, low‑cost military aircraft of its era and is remembered by aviation historians worldwide.

LWS

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Design & Classification