127b Section 1955-07-23
IL Okęcie WSK Mielec TS-8 Bies
Poland
History
TS-8 Bies aircraft in Babich Doły at the monument.
The TS-8 Bies nb 001 aircraft was set up as a monument in Babich Doły at the Military Estate at the present Ikara Street in 1973.
The prototype of Tadeusz Sołtyk TS-8 Bies aircraft made its first flight on July 23, 1955. Mass production was started at WSK PZL Mielec. 229 aircraft were built in 10 production series. The first plane carried serial number 1E-0101, and the last 1E-10-21. TS-8 Bies aircraft served in the Polish Army in all air regiments. The aircraft were used for training, but also for liaison tasks and, for example, recognition of atmospheric conditions. From the training tasks, the TS-8 was replaced by the TS-11 Iskra, which was also designed by Tadeusz Sołtyk. It happened at the beginning of the 70’s. TS-8 Bies planes in the Polish Army were engaged in liaison flights in 1978.
Currently (2019) there are still a few flying TS-8 Bies aircraft that are in private hands. Also, several planes stand on monuments, even in the city of Witkowo. Several are in museums. A few went abroad to private collectors.The aircraft in Babich Doły TS-8 Bies No. 1E-10-01 nb 001 was set on a metal pedestal in 1973. Every two or three years the aircraft was maintained. Was washed, the paint coating was improved. Soldiers from the unit in Babich Doe did it, at the command of the military unit. The work was carried out by soldiers of the main service under the command of an officer. This was the case all over Poland, with other monuments of this type.
Despite this, the condition of the internal structure of the aircraft in Babie Doły deteriorated. In 1994 it was decided to carry out a general renovation. In November 1994 the plane was removed from the metal pedestal and transported for repair at the workshop of Babie Doły airport. In May 1995 the aircraft returned to its place after renovation. Soldiers who carried out this renovation put a bottle on the plane with the following letter:
"Gdynia, 2 May 1995. After 21 years, the TS-8 Bies aircraft was removed in November 1994 to renovate the fuselage. After being renovated by sickle Leszek Tylak, sickle Jan Łukianiuk, bos bare Janusz Janiszewski, senior Ireneusz Mitoraj, mat. Tomasz Wojcieszak and Krzysztof Wojnarowski set the aircraft in the previous place. "
In 2004, a commemorative plaque appeared at the obelisk under the plane – "What they devoted their heart and youth to Aviation and Homeland serving at the airport Oksywie Babie Doły. May 9, 2004. Friends."
In 2009, another commemorative plaque appeared on the obelisk under the plane – "In memory of aviators who died in plane crashes serving the homeland in the military units of Gdynia Babie Doły. August 28, 2009. Colleagues. "
There were changes in the Polish Army. There were no more soldiers in the service who could periodically, as part of "entertainment," maintain the aircraft. Periodic reviews of the airframe structure were no longer carried out. There was a fear that at some point the plane would fall from the metal pedestal.
In 2018, it was decided to renovate the aircraft. However, nobody wanted to do the renovation. The Military Property Agency did not want to take care of him. Also the authorities of Gdynia did not want to deal with this matter. Despite the difficulties, it was possible to raise PLN 80,000 from the Civic Budget. The final renovation cost 117 452.19 PLN gross.
The cost of renovation caused a lot of discussion. The owners of bodyshops from Gdynia claimed that the renovation carried out by them would cost 20-30 thousand zlotys. Then why such a high amount?
In July 2018, the plane was washed, without removing it from the plinth. The plane was removed from the pedestal. Aircraft weight: 1 290 kg. The wings and horizontal tail were dismantled. At the same time, the aircraft was examined (made photographic documentation) by employees of Military Aviation Works No. 1 in Łódź. And the plane on the tow truck went to Łódź. The renovation was carried out at Military Aviation Works No. 1 in Łódź. The plane was sandblasted and painted. On October 5, 2018, the plane returned to its place in Babie Doły. The aircraft was additionally highlighted.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman