RWD (aircraft manufacturer) facts for kids

RWD was a Polish company that designed and built airplanes. It was active from 1928 to 1939. The name RWD came from the first letters of its three young founders: Stanisław Rogalski, Stanisław Wigura, and Jerzy Drzewiecki. They created many different types of aircraft, from small sport planes to military trainers.

History of RWD Airplanes

Jerzy Drzewiecki and Jerzy Wedrychowski by the RWD-7

The three founders of RWD started their work while studying at the Warsaw University of Technology. In 1925, they set up workshops with other students. There, they built their first airplane designs.

In 1928, they officially joined forces as one team. Their first plane together was the RWD-1 sports plane. Jerzy Drzewiecki often tested their new planes. Stanisław Wigura flew as a mechanic in flying competitions.

In 1930, the team moved to new workshops in Okęcie, a district in Warsaw. This area was close to the Okęcie airport, which is now Warsaw International Airport. Sadly, on September 11, 1932, Stanisław Wigura died in a plane crash during a storm. He was flying the RWD-6 at the time. Even after his death, the RWD name continued to be used for new airplane designs.

In 1933, Rogalski, Drzewiecki, and another engineer, Jerzy Wędrychowski, started a company called Doświadczalne Warsztaty Lotnicze (DWL). This company built the RWD airplanes. Other talented designers and engineers also joined the team.

The RWD-6 airplane at the Challenge 1932 contest.

At first, the RWD team focused on designing light sport planes. Their early designs, like the RWD-2 and RWD-4, were built in small numbers. These planes were used in Polish sport aviation. They even flew in the Challenge 1930 international contest.

RWD planes became very successful in competitions. The RWD-6 won the Challenge 1932 contest. Later, RWD-9 planes won the Challenge 1934 international contest. A special RWD-5 sport plane made history in 1933. It was the lightest plane to ever fly across the Atlantic Ocean!

Three types of RWD planes were built in large numbers. The RWD-8 became the main training plane for the Polish Air Force. The RWD-13 was a popular touring plane for travel. The RWD-14 Czapla was a reconnaissance plane, used for looking at things from the sky.

Other important designs included the RWD-10 aerobatic plane from 1933. This plane was great for performing tricks in the air. The RWD-17 was an aerobatic and trainer plane from 1937. The RWD-21 was a light sport plane from 1939.

Unfortunately, World War II started in 1939. This stopped any further development and building of RWD planes. The war also brought an end to the RWD design bureau and the DWL factory.

RWD Aircraft Models

The RWD-8 trainer plane.

The RWD-13 touring plane.

The RWD-17W, a trainer and aerobatic plane.