PZL
SZD-35 Bekas
The SZD‑35 Bekas is a single‑seat, high‑performance sailplane developed in the early 1970s by the Polish design bureau Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny (SZD) and built under licence by the state aircraft manufacturer PZL‑Bielsko. Its first flight took place in 1971, and the type entered series production the following year, with a total of 165 units delivered to clubs and training schools in Poland and abroad. The Bekas incorporates a 15‑meter wingspan, a wooden‑foam sandwich construction and a distinctive T‑tail, giving it a clean aerodynamic profile and excellent glide ratios of up to 34:1. Integrated airbrakes, a retractable monowheel undercarriage and a roomy cockpit equipped with ergonomically placed controls made it suitable for both competition soaring and pilot training. The aircraft’s easy handling, low maintenance requirements and modest certification costs helped to modernise the Polish gliding fleet during the Cold‑War era, bridging the gap between earlier wooden gliders and later composite designs. Today the SZD‑35 remains a popular classic among vintage glider enthusiasts, symbolising Poland’s contribution to post‑war sailplane development and the successful collaboration between SZD and PZL. Its legacy continues to inspire new generations of pilots and designers worldwide.
