PZL
SZD-51 Junior
The SZD‑51 Junior is a single‑seat, high‑performance sailplane that entered production in the early 1970s under the auspice of PZL‑Bielsko, the Polish state‑run aircraft manufacturer. Developed from the earlier SZD‑50 Puchacz, the Junior was conceived to replace ageing clubs’ trainers with a modern, competitively cheap glider that could also be used for national contests. Its first flight took place in 1972 and series production continued until the early 1990s, during which more than 600 units were delivered to Polish aeroclubs and to customers in the USSR, Czechoslovakia and Western Europe.
Key features include a glass‑fibre reinforced polyester fuselage, a 15‑metre wing span equipped with straight, tapered ribs, Schempp‑Hirth airbrakes and interchangeable wingtips that allow the span to be increased to 18 metres for competition use. The aircraft’s all‑metal wing spar and simple, robust control system make it exceptionally durable and easy to maintain, while the cockpit offers a comfortable semi‑reclined position and modern instrumentation.
The SZD‑51 Junior’s combination of low operating costs, forgiving flight characteristics and respectable glide ratio made it a cornerstone of Polish gliding training for three decades, and it remains a popular vintage sailplane in clubs worldwide.
Key features include a glass‑fibre reinforced polyester fuselage, a 15‑metre wing span equipped with straight, tapered ribs, Schempp‑Hirth airbrakes and interchangeable wingtips that allow the span to be increased to 18 metres for competition use. The aircraft’s all‑metal wing spar and simple, robust control system make it exceptionally durable and easy to maintain, while the cockpit offers a comfortable semi‑reclined position and modern instrumentation.
The SZD‑51 Junior’s combination of low operating costs, forgiving flight characteristics and respectable glide ratio made it a cornerstone of Polish gliding training for three decades, and it remains a popular vintage sailplane in clubs worldwide.
Classification
Dimensions
- Wing Area
- 12.51 square metre
- Length
- 6.69 metre
- Height
- 1.51 metre
- Mass
- 242 kilogram
Performance
- Maximum Speed
- 220 kilometre per hour
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 261
- First Flight
- 1980