of the Allstar PZL Glider company, which had bought a large part of the bankrupted factory's assets.

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2 Joanna, wraqqed up ready far a wave ftigfzt, fries ouf fl:e Perkaz far size. he story of Perkoz (SZD-54) started in This two-seat sailplane was carefully developed over a period of seven years until first prototype took to air in 1991 over Jelenia G6ra in south-west Poland. The flight testing programme however was painfully slow as state-owned Polish gliding faciory,pzl- n Bielsko, was in serious financial difficulties at time. When inevitable bankruptcy occurred, Perkoz (SZD-54) project was forgotten, hidden in a corner of dilapidated facility where prototype slept like a sleeping beauty for several years. She was finally rediscovered by Andrzej Papiorek, a new private glider builder and Managing Dtrector of Allstar PZL Glider company, which had bought a large part of bankrupted factory's assets. Allstar re-assembled sailplane and restored it to its initial beauty, refreshing paint in ln spring 2007, il was shown at AERO Friedrichshafen in Germany, to see if it produced any interest amongst potential cus- n,-&l'/ tlg':'-/'"'loznohrtnn'/

3 llltl t8 t t&ryrqlrr!)l I^t lfi lpi l;l Ms=31-40 (k9/m2) meter version ds=38.76 (kg/m2) meter version 1 UIILI-IY category 'a AEROBATIC ca{egory tomers. Andrzej Papiorek was not surprised to find that glider did indeed arouse plenty of curiosity within gliding community. A year later in 2008 after a completing a full technical test programme, Perkoz was exhibited in Orvietto in ltaly where it was announced that it would also be a glider suitable for disabled pilots, with an optional hand operated rudder. Unfortunately, type's ceftif ication process was postponed when EASA unexpectedly introduced new, more severe demands regarding cabin design of a much higher reinforcement (from 99 to 159) and changed glider construction regulations. The Perkoz was built according to requirements of JAR-22 U (utility) and A (Aerobatics) certification but has not yet been cedified. Right now factory is building a new version of Perkoz that will meet new EASA CS-22 requirements. lt is planned to be ready at beginning of 2010 and serial production of sailplane will start during year. There are already 10 buyers waiting ir production turn. 21

4 by Jantar STD. The Perkoz also dtffers from its older Puchacz bror in that position of wings have been placed lower mid height of fuselage. With ihe pilots' seats re-positioned furr aft in comparison to Puchacz, Perkoz's wings do not form characteristic arrow shape of its predecessor. As a consequence' Perkoz has much better spinning characteristics when it comes to entering and recovering from a spin. A lowered tailplane also enables a full range of aerobatics' The canopy opens very easily and hinges with springs to protect against accidental damage caused by frequent and careless opening encountered during a busy training season. The airbrakes have to meet tough regulations which say that in a steep 45 degree dive, with maximum weight, glider cannot exceed maximum design speed' When Perkoz terminal velcoty brakes [V) are fully open it almost stops in air, and even in a steep dive, it will not exceed speed frr**t t*tkstit stct;pts'$iltt!{s rlec &;gges/ *f pfj*rs ln initial stages, Perkoz was an upgraded version of planned 'Puchaczto be pu-hatch)' a very (pronounced popular Polish two-seat glider that has seen bob proorced and flying all over world' However, Polish Ministry of Technology has been prepared to consider finincing a completely new sailplane rar than a simple face-lift of an existing one' Adam Meus an experienced and talented Polish engineer who had designed limit. The Perkoz can fly in two categories with different limits: aerobatic and utility' ln ihe Fhe'*{8k stesl * ttsckpit ir *r:c;egsr tfz* t'ziggest etti; tt'i le Ereu! t'is*ltili13,. Tfue witll- t1ce i:sslreassaetzl S"tt*ef lifis r': {{*ct}f}1 eeurkiceg dittgss e'ei:}r e{d$3" Puchacz was extremely happy to commence work on Perkoz. The engineers knew exactly what should be improved in new two-seat glider but y have gone even furr - designing a sailplane that has many virtues - from basic training, through cloud and wave flights to advanced aerobatics' Unlike in Puchacz where wings have Worlmann profile, typicalfor train ing gliders, NN-8 aerofoil applied in pjrioz makes it more like a competitive glider. The same aerofoil is used for example 22 ; * i

5 hi*te n -1 't c{lltrc la**-!z**k fuscsti*tz tst'stl re-g1rtsiti*netf t*i{pfjj"wt' compare it aerobatic version permitted maximum- controls parlicularly fast. I could glider), seat (a single Junior, weight to flying speed is 265km/h but with a lower time' reaction and forces good to comes it when (565kg). The original airbrakes were such as and versatile surprisingly utility is also It enough for that version but not for competition' any have Io 245 not does version where speed was limited It can perform all aerobatics like Fox, km/h but with a heavier weight (585k9)' ASK-21 modified or, (typical aerobatic gliders), but Therefore airbrakes had to be Perkoz's while is 30 latter of both for ratio UD and now y work perfectly well is almost 40 (37 for version with versions. hours m wing span, and 4'1 '8 for 20m verzbigniew Weksej has now flown lt is still however very suitable as a highsion). in proto-type and his test reports like Bocian, which is not trainer basic lights gliders advantages: to for aerobatics. reacts rated "lt is easy to operate, agile and E $,o**ry20/0

6 Perkoz is as easy to take off and land as single seat Junior and is also a very docile sailplane that forgives pilots' mistakes. lt goes up as nicely on a winch as Bocian. For cross-country soaring it is better than Junior which has a speed limit of 180. The Perkoz can comfortably fly as fast as 240 km/h, like Jantar (a competitive glider), thanks to its thin aerofoil. At low speed and in a training environment, it behaves like Junior, but in a race it is more like Jantar. Flying inverted, it reminds me of Fox (an aerobatic sporl glider). However, sink speed is lower than aerobatic gliders which allows Perkoz's pilot to make an extra set of aerobatic manoeuvres from same altitude. I find it difficult to understand how engineers managed to combine all those features in one machine. On top of that, Perkoz with winglets soars smoothly in rmals. Once you get re and trim its position, it will circle like a bird. lt doesn't slip out of rmals. The ailerons are very effective, and 45 to 45 degree roll is much faster than Puchacz. Perkoz does not fall into a stall. Even with stick pulled fully back, glider remains controlled. A stall needs to be initiated by a positive control column movement and it is easy to recover. Finally, cabin is very spacious. The instructor has a lot of space in back seat and very good visibility. He can take his feet off rudder and sit comfortably to let trainee fly on ir own. Thanks to flat control panel, instructor can easily observe pupil in front of him." The Allstar PZL Glider company is located in beautiful mountain town of Bielsko Biata, close to Polish mecca of mountain flying,zar. The factory produces SZD-54 Perkoz, SZD-59 Acro, SZD-55-1, SZD-S1-1 Junior, SZD-50-3 Puchacz and SZD-48-3 Jantar Std 3. The price of Perkoz will be around 65,000 (without instruments) with custom- ers in Germany, ltaly, New Zealand and Canada awaiting delivery. The latest word from Allstar factory is that engineers are also working on powered version of Perkoz, but that is at leased anor year away. "