Kraków 2007-08-22
235 Section 1974-04-26
OKB Sukhoi Su-20. Poland. Tally
The supersonic fighter-bomber with variable wing geometry. The first aircraft of this type in the Polish Army.
The Su-20 marking in Poland was as follows; The first digit indicated the year of arrival in Poland. The second digit indicated the quarter of the year of arrival in Poland. The third the month of arrival, but there were cases of rounding up. The fourth digit is the last digit of the airframe’s serial number.
Tally
1 Su-20 (S-32 MK) nb 01/4241 nr 6601 – Built in February 1974. Delivered 1974-04-26. The aircraft received nb 01. If the aircraft had survived until the changes of side numbers, it would have received nb 4241. Crashed 1976-02-03, near the town of Kazimierz Biskupi. Pilot Capt. Jerzy Doliniec died. The crash occurred as a result of a generator failure and engine stall. The failure was the fault of the manufacturer, who admitted his fault and provided a new aircraft as compensation.
2 Su-20 nb 02/4242 nr 6602 – Built in February 1974. Delivered 1974-04-26. After completing its service, it was transferred to the Museum in Czyżyny (1997).
3 Su-20 nb 03/4243 no. 6603 – Built in February 1974. Delivered 1974-04-26. Crashed on 1987-09-07, in the area of Lake Powidz. Pilot Maj. Andrzej Pawłowski (?) ejected successfully.
4 Su-20 nb 04/4244 no. 6604 – Built in February 1974. Delivered 1974-04-26. The front part of the aircraft was a teaching aid at the technical school in Oleśnica. Since 2010, it has been an exhibit at the Polish Aviation Museum in Czyżyny.
5 Su-20 nb 05/4245 no. 6605 – Built in February 1974. Delivered 1974-04-26. The aircraft was used until 1994-02-28, in (like most Su-20 aircraft) the 7th BLB-R (Bomber-Reconnaissance Aviation Brigade) in Powidz. Later the unit was transformed into the 7th PLBR (Bomber-Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment). In 1994, the aircraft was transferred to the Air Force Base in Mierzęcice, and then in 1995 to the Museum in Poznań at the Citadel. Initially it stood in front of the Citadel, and then at an outdoor exhibition in the Citadel. Interestingly, the aircraft flew with the wings of another Su-20 with serial number 6604 from the beginning, although it had its own wing beams. In the unit it received its markings in the form of an emblem on the stabilizer and an emblem on the nose (the green color of the seven means belonging to the 2nd squadron). The aircraft was restored in 2002. The aircraft’s serial number is 6605. The last side number is 4245, and for some time it was painted over with the word SCHOOL.
6 Su-20 nb 6130 no. 74930 – Built in December 1975. Delivered 1976. On 1986-03-10 (?) it was crashed at the naval range in Ustka. Pilot captain Czesław Gibaszewski ejected successfully.
7 Su-20 nb 6131 no. 76301 – Built in 1976. Delivered 1976. The aircraft was withdrawn from service relatively early, because it did not undergo renovation and camouflage repainting. After service it was placed in the Museum of Polish Military Technology, Fort Czerniaków in Warsaw.
8 Su-20 nb 6134 no. 74724 – Built in October 1975. Delivered 1976-04-13. On 1995-05-31, at 10:56. Crashed in Młynica near Strzelin. Captain pilot Grzegorz Falent died.
9 Su-20 nb 6137 no. 74727 – Built in December 1975. Delivered 1976-04-13. On 1978-03-13, capsized during takeoff. Pilot was captain pilot Stanisław Walczak.
10 Su-20 nb 6138 no. 74728 – Built in December 1975. Delivered 1976-03-18. Used in 7. PLB-R in Powidz. Withdrawn from service 1997-02-28. In October 1999, transferred to the Museum in Drzonów.
11 Su-20 nb 6139 no. 74729 – Built in December 1975. Delivered 1976-03-18. Crashed on the training ground in Solec Kujawski. Pilot captain Ryszard Pawłowski ejected successfully.
12 Su-20 nb 6250 no. 74210 – Built in 1975. Delivered 1976. After completing its service in Czyżyny in the storage part in a disassembled form since 2009. Intended as an exhibit for replacement. The Sukhoi Su-20 aircraft with side number 6250 (serial number 74210), which was previously located in the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow, was transferred in 2017 to the Military Technology Park in Zabrze in Silesia. There it was assembled and is currently presented as an outdoor exhibit. The Military Technology Park in Zabrze is part of the Military Technology Museum complex, where you can see various military vehicles and equipment, including aircraft, tanks and other armored vehicles. The Su-20 nb 6250 is one of the few preserved examples of this type in Poland and is a valuable element of the collection, showing the development of military aviation during the Cold War. The Military Technology Park in Zabrze is located at ul. Maurycego Mochnackiego 12 (formerly Sienkiewicza 43).
13 Su-20 nb 6251 no. 74311 – Built in 1975. Delivered 1976-04-09. Crashed 1990-08-01, over the Nadarzyce training ground. Pilot Lt. Jerzy Gruszczyński ejected successfully. Author of many aviation publications and articles.
14 Su-20 nb 6252 no. 74302 – Built in 1975. Delivered 1976. After service at the Museum of Polish Military Technology, Fort Czerniaków in Warsaw. The aircraft is camouflaged. The aircraft is disassembled.
15 Su-20 nb 6253 no. 74303 – Built in 1975. Delivered 1976.
16 Su-20 nb 6254 no. 74304 – Built January 1976. Delivered 1976. On 1993-07-14, crashed near Września. Pilot captain Robert Dudzik (?) ejected successfully.
17 Su-20 nb 6255 no. 74305 – Built 1976. Delivered 1976. Since 2012, the aircraft has been an exhibit at the Museum in Dęblin.
18 Su-20 nb 6262 no. 74312 – Built 1976. Delivered 1976. The aircraft spent 1,359 hours in the air. After service, the aircraft was purchased by a Polish entrepreneur. It was placed on a pedestal, as if it was rising into the sky, by National Road No. 4 and a petrol station, before Tarnów. It became an advertisement for a mayonnaise manufacturer. In 2004, the plane was put up for sale as part of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. Its new owner, for about 4,500 złoty, was an entrepreneur from Częstochowa. However, he did not take back his property, because he was discouraged by the costs of dismantling and transport. The plane was too close to the road and made its modernization difficult. In 2007, the plane was dismantled and transported to Częstochowa on two trucks. On March 28, 2007 (Wednesday), the Su-20 ended up in the hands of an enthusiast from Brzeziny.
19 Su-20 nb 6263 no. 74313 – Built in December 1975. Delivered 1976-04-09. Crashed 1978-05-22, near Bednary alternate airport. Pilot Lieutenant Antoni Dziadowski (?) killed.
20 Su-20 nb 6264 no. 74314 – Built in December 1975. Delivered 1976-04-09.
21 Su-20 nb 6265 no. 74316 – Built in December 1975. Delivered 1976-04-09. Since 2012, the aircraft has been an exhibit at the Museum in Dęblin. The aircraft is in desert camouflage.
22 Su-20 nb 7125 no. 74105 – Built in 1974. Delivered 1977-02-12. Given by the manufacturer in place of a lost aircraft. Withdrawn from service on 1995-08-19. In 2012, the aircraft was transferred to the Museum in Dęblin. Aircraft in green and brown camouflage.
23 Su-20 nb 6256 nr 74416 – Delivered in 1976. After service, as a private exhibit at a gas station on the S7 road, Grójec-Białobrzegi.
24 Su-20 – Delivered in 1976.
25 Su-20 – Delivered in 1976.
26 Su-20 – Delivered in 1976.
27 Su-20 – Delivered in 1976.
In Poland, 27 Su-20s were used, these aircraft were always stationed at the base in Powidz. The last units were withdrawn in 1997.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman