Kraków 2025-02-20
Jerzy Ostrowski’s amateur plane.
Jerzy Ostrowski’s (1935-1985) amateur aircraft is a biplane aircraft design with a tail fin. The aircraft is equipped with an internal combustion engine that moves a pusher propeller.
The designer began work on the aircraft in 1978, in the basement of an apartment building. Due to the lack of space, the designer built an aircraft that was made in parts and was easily assembled. The wings and fins are easily detached. The aircraft was built until 1983.
Initially, the designer used a 250 cm3 two-stroke motorcycle engine from an MZ motorcycle. The engine turned out to be inappropriate. The aircraft could not take off with this engine. In addition, the transmission belts between the engine and the propeller broke. The designer used an engine from a Trabant car, also two-stroke, with a capacity of 600 cm3, with a power of 26 HP.
The aircraft was first flown on February 10, 1983. Jerzy Ostrowski’s aircraft was one of the few private designs built during the PRL (People’s Republic of Poland) period. In September 1984, the aircraft was demonstrated during the 3rd Amateur Aviation Rally. The glider airfield in Leszno was the venue for the show. Jerzy Ostrowski’s amateur aircraft took third place “for high technical level, exemplary construction and the flight performed”. However, there were still problems with the engine, which was unreliable. The aircraft made emergency landings several times, but they were successfully completed. In 1985, the designer died unexpectedly. The aircraft was the last completed design of Jerzy Ostrowski. After some time, the aircraft was borrowed from the designer’s widow and continued to fly. Flights continued. The aircraft was equipped with a liquid-cooled engine from a Citroen 2CV car, with a power of 27 HP. With this engine, the aircraft flew, but low and slowly. Especially with pilots of considerable weight. The pilots used thermals to climb. However, the plane rarely flew to an altitude of over 100 m. The engine was reliable and fuel-efficient.
The engine was changed once again. A 2-cylinder Rotax 503 aircraft engine was installed, with a power of 45.6 HP. With this engine, the plane turned out to be good. It took off from a run at a distance of only 50 m and was able to reach an altitude of 4,000 m. In 1988, the plane without an engine was bought by two pilots. The Rotax aircraft engine was reinstalled and the first flight was performed on April 30, 1988. In 1998, the plane was sold again; without an engine and without wing covering. In this condition, the plane was shown at the 5th Stalowa Wola Amateur Aircraft Design Meeting, in August 1999, at the Turbia airport. The plane was restored to a flying condition and flew for several months, until 2001, as part of the Kielce Aeroclub. Then the plane was put on a slope, where it stood for several years. In 2013, the plane was taken to Częstochowa (Częstochowa Aeroclub) and renovated there. It was flown several times and then forgotten in a hangar. Currently (2024) the plane is an exhibit at the Aviation Museum in Kraków.
T-T data of Jerzy Ostrowski’s plane: Wingspan 5.64 m. Length 4.72 m. Lifting area 10.86 m2. Take-off weight 215 kg. Maximum speed 105 km/h. With the most powerful engine, the maximum speed was 150 km/h. Range 170 km. With the most powerful engine, the maximum ceiling was 4,000 m.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman