Plage i Laskiewicz
Encyclopedia
Plage i Laśkiewicz was the first Polish
aerospace manufacturer
, located in Lublin
and manufacturing aircraft
under Lublin name. Full name was: Zakłady Mechaniczne E. Plage i T. Laśkiewicz - Mechanical Works E. Plage & T. Laśkiewicz. The factory produced aircraft between 1920 and 1935, when it was nationalized as the LWS
.
it started producing aircraft
, as the first works in independent Poland. On February 17, 1920, the Polish government ordered a licence production of Italian fighters Ansaldo A.1 Balilla
and light bombers Ansaldo A.300
in Plage & Laśkiewicz. The first Polish A.300 was flown on June 14, 1921
. However, due to lack of experience, a quality of produced aircraft was low, and there were numerous crashes. As a result, the order was limited to 70 A.300 and 50 A.1 only, produced by 1924
.
Despite of unsuccessful beginning, the factory gained experience, and there were no major problems with future aircraft series. In 1924, the Polish government ordered a licence production of French light bombers Potez XV, and in 1925
-1926
, there were built 100 of them in Plage & Laśkiewicz. In 1928-1931 the works produced 150 of more modern Potez 25
. In 1929-1930 the works produced 11 passenger planes Fokker F-VIIb/3m
on Fokker
licence, and 20 of own Fokker F-VIIb/3m bomber modification.
. Then, apart from licence production, the works started to produce own aircraft, under Lublin name, designated "R" for Rudlicki.
The first own design was a biplane bomber Lublin R-VIII
, flown in 1928
. Six were produced by 1930, three of them were later converted to seaplane
s and used in the Polish naval aviation until 1939. Prototype light passenger planes: biplane R-IX, and high-wing R-XI
were not ordered by the Polish Airlines
. Also sport high-wing plane Lublin R-XII was not produced in series.
Another design was a parasol wing
liaison aircraft
Lublin R-X
, flown in 1929
. It won a contest for a Polish Air Force
liaison plane, but only 7 were produced. Instead, Rudlicki developed it further and designed trainer aircraft R-XIV and an army cooperation plane Lublin R-XIII
, which became Polish main army cooperation plane (and the only mass-produced Lublin). 15 of R-XIV were built in 1930-31, and 223 of R-XIII were built in 1932-1935 (further 50 after nationalization). Its experimental variant R-XIX introduced the V-tail
, invented by Rudlicki.
The light passenger plane Lublin R-XVI
of 1932 was not ordered by the airlines, but 6 were produced as air ambulance
R-XVIb. The last construction was a two-engine torpedo seaplane Lublin R-XX
, flown in 1935, but it was not produced as well. Apart from these, some other designs did not reach prototype stage.
In 1924-1933 the works produced also car bodies, mainly for Somua (imported) and Ursus
buses, but also for luxury imported cars.
Due to plans of Polish aviation authorities (mainly Ludomił Rayski) to gather all aviation industry in state-owned factories, Plage & Laśkiewicz works were forced to bankruptcy
. After delivering 7 of ordered 50 R-XIIIF
aircraft in late 1935
, the Polish Ministry of War broke the contract under a pretext. As a result, the factory went bankrupt and then was nationalized
under the name LWS
(Lubelska Wytwórnia Samolotów - Lublin Aircraft Works). Then, 18 almost ready R-XIIIF, bought by scrap price, were completed, and the next series of 32 was built.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
aerospace manufacturer
Aerospace manufacturer
An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing, building, testing, selling, and maintaining aircraft, aircraft parts, missiles, rockets, and/or spacecraft....
, located in Lublin
Lublin
Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...
and manufacturing aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
under Lublin name. Full name was: Zakłady Mechaniczne E. Plage i T. Laśkiewicz - Mechanical Works E. Plage & T. Laśkiewicz. The factory produced aircraft between 1920 and 1935, when it was nationalized as the LWS
LWS (aircraft manufacturer)
LWS - Lubelska Wytwórnia Samolotów was the Polish aerospace manufacturer, located in Lublin, created in 1936 of Plage i Laśkiewicz works and producing aircraft between 1936 and 1939.-History:...
.
Beginnings and license production
Plage i Laśkiewicz first was a mechanical workshop and steam boiler producer, but in 19201920 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1920:- Events :*Juan de la Cierva y Cordoniu invents the autogyro. His first autogyro, the Cierva C.1, fails to become airborne, but is the first aircraft to demonstrate the principle of autorotation as it taxis on the ground.*The Argentine Navy...
it started producing aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
, as the first works in independent Poland. On February 17, 1920, the Polish government ordered a licence production of Italian fighters Ansaldo A.1 Balilla
Ansaldo A.1 Balilla
-See also:...
and light bombers Ansaldo A.300
Ansaldo A.300
-See also:...
in Plage & Laśkiewicz. The first Polish A.300 was flown on June 14, 1921
1921 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1921:- Events :* Bessie Coleman attends flying school in France and became the first licensed African-American female pilot.* Mexicana de Aviación begins service....
. However, due to lack of experience, a quality of produced aircraft was low, and there were numerous crashes. As a result, the order was limited to 70 A.300 and 50 A.1 only, produced by 1924
1924 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1924:- Events :* Violating the Treaty of Versailles, Germany establishes a secret training base for German pilots at Lipetsk in the Soviet Union...
.
Despite of unsuccessful beginning, the factory gained experience, and there were no major problems with future aircraft series. In 1924, the Polish government ordered a licence production of French light bombers Potez XV, and in 1925
1925 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1925:-Events:* In the United Kingdom, the first Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadrons are formed....
-1926
1926 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1926:- Events :* United Airlines established.* Award of the Harmon Trophy begins. A set of three trophies is awarded annually to the worlds outstanding aviator, aviatrix , and aeronaut for the year, and a fourth trophy is awarded to the outstanding...
, there were built 100 of them in Plage & Laśkiewicz. In 1928-1931 the works produced 150 of more modern Potez 25
Potez 25
|-See also:*Aerial operations in the Chaco War-References:Heinonen, Timo Heinonen: Thulinista Hornetiin, Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseon julkaisuja 3, 1992. ISBN 951-95688-2-4.-External links:* *...
. In 1929-1930 the works produced 11 passenger planes Fokker F-VIIb/3m
Fokker F.VII
The Fokker F.VII, also known as the Fokker Trimotor, was an airliner produced in the 1920s by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker, Fokker's American subsidiary Atlantic Aircraft Corporation, and other companies under licence....
on Fokker
Fokker
Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names, starting out in 1912 in Schwerin, Germany, moving to the Netherlands in 1919....
licence, and 20 of own Fokker F-VIIb/3m bomber modification.
Own designs
In the mid-1920s the factory management was changed, and the main designer became Jerzy RudlickiJerzy Rudlicki
Rudlicki Jerzy was a Polish aerospace engineer who invented and in 1930 patented the V-tail configuration for aircraft combining the ailerons and elevators in one system. He both worked in the World War I and World War II on aircraft...
. Then, apart from licence production, the works started to produce own aircraft, under Lublin name, designated "R" for Rudlicki.
The first own design was a biplane bomber Lublin R-VIII
Lublin R-VIII
-References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 -External links:*...
, flown in 1928
1928 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1928:- Events :* The Soviet Unions First Five-Year Plan begins, placing a high priority on the construction of new aircraft factories...
. Six were produced by 1930, three of them were later converted to seaplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
s and used in the Polish naval aviation until 1939. Prototype light passenger planes: biplane R-IX, and high-wing R-XI
Lublin R-XI
-See also:-References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977, p. 147-149 -External links:* at Ugolok Neba page...
were not ordered by the Polish Airlines
LOT Polish Airlines
Polskie Linie Lotnicze LOT S.A. , trading as LOT Polish Airlines, is the flag carrier of Poland. Based in Warsaw, LOT was established in 1929, making it one of the world's oldest airlines still in operation. Using a fleet of 55 aircraft, LOT operates a complex network to 60 destinations in Europe,...
. Also sport high-wing plane Lublin R-XII was not produced in series.
Parasol wing
A parasol wing monoplane is an aircraft design in which the wing is not mounted directly to the fuselage, but rather, the fuselage is supported beneath it by a set of struts, called cabane struts...
liaison aircraft
Liaison aircraft
A liaison aircraft is a small, usually unarmed aircraft primarily used by military forces for artillery observation or transporting commanders and messages. The concept developed before World War II and included also battlefield reconnaissance, air ambulance, column control, light cargo delivery...
Lublin R-X
Lublin R-X
The Lublin R-X was the Polish liaison aircraft, built in 1929 in the Plage i Laśkiewicz factory in Lublin.-Development:In 1927, the Polish War Ministry opened a contest for a military liaison and observation plane. It was meant to operate from casual airfields, used by Army land units...
, flown in 1929
1929 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1929:- Events :* Greatest number of fatal civil aircraft crashes in US history.* Cubana de Aviación begins service.* Pan American World Airways begins service.* The Canadian Siskins aerobatic team is formed....
. It won a contest for a Polish Air Force
Polish Air Force
The Polish Air Force is the military Air Force wing of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej...
liaison plane, but only 7 were produced. Instead, Rudlicki developed it further and designed trainer aircraft R-XIV and an army cooperation plane Lublin R-XIII
Lublin R-XIII
The Lublin R-XIII was the Polish army-cooperation plane , designed in the early-1930s in the Plage i Laśkiewicz factory in Lublin. It was the main army cooperation plane in the Invasion of Poland...
, which became Polish main army cooperation plane (and the only mass-produced Lublin). 15 of R-XIV were built in 1930-31, and 223 of R-XIII were built in 1932-1935 (further 50 after nationalization). Its experimental variant R-XIX introduced the V-tail
V-tail
In aircraft, a V-tail is an unconventional arrangement of the tail control surfaces that replaces the traditional fin and horizontal surfaces with two surfaces set in a V-shaped configuration when viewed from the front or rear of the aircraft...
, invented by Rudlicki.
The light passenger plane Lublin R-XVI
Lublin R-XVI
-References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977, p. 160-162 -External links:* at Ugolok Neba page*...
of 1932 was not ordered by the airlines, but 6 were produced as air ambulance
Air ambulance
An air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport....
R-XVIb. The last construction was a two-engine torpedo seaplane Lublin R-XX
Lublin R-XX
-See also:-References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977, p. 162-164 * at -External links:*...
, flown in 1935, but it was not produced as well. Apart from these, some other designs did not reach prototype stage.
In 1924-1933 the works produced also car bodies, mainly for Somua (imported) and Ursus
Ursus Tractor Factory
The Ursus Factory is a Polish producer of agricultural machinery located in Warsaw.- Early History :The Ursus Factory was founded in Poland in 1893 on 15 Siennej Street, Warsaw, by three engineers and four businessmen...
buses, but also for luxury imported cars.
Due to plans of Polish aviation authorities (mainly Ludomił Rayski) to gather all aviation industry in state-owned factories, Plage & Laśkiewicz works were forced to bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
. After delivering 7 of ordered 50 R-XIIIF
Lublin R-XIII
The Lublin R-XIII was the Polish army-cooperation plane , designed in the early-1930s in the Plage i Laśkiewicz factory in Lublin. It was the main army cooperation plane in the Invasion of Poland...
aircraft in late 1935
1935 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1935:- Events :* Employing aerial refueling, a sustained flight record of 653 hours 33 minutes is set...
, the Polish Ministry of War broke the contract under a pretext. As a result, the factory went bankrupt and then was nationalized
Nationalization
Nationalisation, also spelled nationalization, is the process of taking an industry or assets into government ownership by a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to private assets, but may also mean assets owned by lower levels of government, such as municipalities, being...
under the name LWS
LWS (aircraft manufacturer)
LWS - Lubelska Wytwórnia Samolotów was the Polish aerospace manufacturer, located in Lublin, created in 1936 of Plage i Laśkiewicz works and producing aircraft between 1936 and 1939.-History:...
(Lubelska Wytwórnia Samolotów - Lublin Aircraft Works). Then, 18 almost ready R-XIIIF, bought by scrap price, were completed, and the next series of 32 was built.
| List of Lublin aircraft | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Description | Date of first flight Prototype/serial |
Number built |
| Lublin R-VIII Lublin R-VIII -References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 -External links:*... |
1-engine, 2-seater, bomber / seaplane biplane | 1928/1930 | 6 |
| Lublin R-IX | 1-engine, 2+6-seater, passenger biplane | 1929/- | 1 |
| Lublin R-X Lublin R-X The Lublin R-X was the Polish liaison aircraft, built in 1929 in the Plage i Laśkiewicz factory in Lublin.-Development:In 1927, the Polish War Ministry opened a contest for a military liaison and observation plane. It was meant to operate from casual airfields, used by Army land units... |
1-engine, 2-seater, liaison, high-wing | 1929/1929 | 7 |
| Lublin R-XI Lublin R-XI -See also:-References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977, p. 147-149 -External links:* at Ugolok Neba page... |
1-engine, 2+4-seater, passenger, high-wing | 1930/- | 1 |
| Lublin R-XII Lublin R-XII |-See also:-References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977, p. 149 -External links:* at Ugolok Neba page... |
1-engine, 3-seater, sport plane, high-wing | 1930/- | 1 |
| Lublin R-XIII Lublin R-XIII The Lublin R-XIII was the Polish army-cooperation plane , designed in the early-1930s in the Plage i Laśkiewicz factory in Lublin. It was the main army cooperation plane in the Invasion of Poland... |
1-engine, 2-seater, army cooperation and reconnaissance / seaplane, high-wing | 1931/1932 | 273 |
| Lublin R-XIV Lublin R-XIII The Lublin R-XIII was the Polish army-cooperation plane , designed in the early-1930s in the Plage i Laśkiewicz factory in Lublin. It was the main army cooperation plane in the Invasion of Poland... |
1-engine, 2-seater, trainer, high-wing | -/1930 | 15 |
| Lublin R-XV | 1-engine, 2-seater, army cooperation, high-wing | (1930 project) | - |
| Lublin R-XVI Lublin R-XVI -References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977, p. 160-162 -External links:* at Ugolok Neba page*... |
1-engine, 2+4-seater, passenger and ambulance, high-wing | 1932/1935 | 7 |
| Lublin R-XVII | 1-engine, reconnaissance, biplane (Potez XXV development) | (project) | - |
| Lublin R-XVIII | 2-engine, medium bomber, biplane with V-tail V-tail In aircraft, a V-tail is an unconventional arrangement of the tail control surfaces that replaces the traditional fin and horizontal surfaces with two surfaces set in a V-shaped configuration when viewed from the front or rear of the aircraft... |
(1933 project) | - |
| Lublin R-XIX Lublin R-XIII The Lublin R-XIII was the Polish army-cooperation plane , designed in the early-1930s in the Plage i Laśkiewicz factory in Lublin. It was the main army cooperation plane in the Invasion of Poland... |
1-engine, 2-seater, experimental army cooperation, high-wing with V-tail V-tail In aircraft, a V-tail is an unconventional arrangement of the tail control surfaces that replaces the traditional fin and horizontal surfaces with two surfaces set in a V-shaped configuration when viewed from the front or rear of the aircraft... |
1933/- | 1 |
| Lublin R-XX Lublin R-XX -See also:-References:*Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977, p. 162-164 * at -External links:*... |
2-engine, 5-seater, torpedo bomber seaplane, low-wing | 1935/- | 1 |
| Lublin R-XXI | 1-engine, 2-seater, army cooperation and reconnaissance, high-wing | (1932 project) | - |
| Lublin R-XXII | 1-engine, 3-seater, torpedo seaplane biplane | (1934 project) | - |