PZL TS-11 Iskra

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TS-11 Iskra

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The PZL TS-11 Iskra (Polish for Spark) is a Polish jet trainer aircraft, used by the air forces of Poland and India. It is notable as the main trainer plane of the Polish Army, the oldest jet plane still in service in Poland - and one of the most reliable.

Contents

1 Development
2 Service history
3 Variants
4 Description
5 Specifications (Iskra bis D)

5.1 Operators

6 Related content

Development

The aircraft was designed in response to a Polish Air Force requirement for a jet trainer. The main designer was Tadeusz Sołtyk - hence a designation letters TS. The new plane was the first jet aircraft designed in Poland. Work started in 1957, the first prototype powered by an imported British Armstrong Siddeley Viper 8 of 7.80 kN (1,750 lb_f) was flown on February 5, 1960. The next two prototypes, with a Polish copy of the Viper engine named the WSK HO-10 engine were flown in March and July 1961.

The new plane fulfiled requirements and, after tests, was accepted for the Polish Air Force as the TS-11 Iskra bis A, produced since 1963. From about 1966, the aircraft were produced with a new Polish-designed engine WSK SO-1 with thrust of 9.80 kN (2,200 lb_f). From 1969, WSK SO-3 engines with longer time between overhauls were used and later improved version WSK SO-3W with thrust of 10.80 kN (2,425 lb_f).

Service history

In 1964, the TS-11 prototype beat four world records in its class, among others the speed record of 839 km/h (524 mph). The Iskra competed as the standard jet trainer for the Warsaw Pact, but due to a political decision, the Czechoslovakian Aero L-29 Delfin was chosen. Poland became the only Warsaw Pact country using the Iskra. 424 aircraft were built by 1987, when production ceased. 50 aircraft Iskra bis D were exported to India in 1975, then further 26 in the 1990s.

In 2002, Poland still had 110 TS-11s, including 5 TS-11Rs. The Iskra became Polish first and only jet trainer so far - the programme for a succesor, the PZL I-22 Iryda, (later designated M-93 Iryda) failed for several reasons and few were built. In the Indian service, Iskra was withdrawn by December 16, 2004.

From 1969 TS-11s have been used by the Polish aerobatics team, initially called "Rombik", and currently "Biało-Czerwone Iskry" ("White-and-Red Iskras").

Variants

TS-11 Iskra bis A : Two-seat jet trainer aircraft. The Iskra bis A was the first production model.
TS-11 Iskra bis B : Two-seat jet trainer aircraft, with four underwing pylons to carry weapons. (Prototype named TS-11 Iskra 100).
TS-11 Iskra bis C : Single-seater reconnaissance plane from 1971. It had a camera in the lower fuselage and increased fuel capacity. (Prototype named TS-11 Iskra 200 Art). Only 5 were built in 1972, in 1983 they were converted to trainers.
TS-11 Iskra bis D : Two-seat jet trainer aircraft from 1973. Fifty of those aircraft were built for the Indian Air Force. (Prototype named TS-11 Iskra 200 SB) with bigger payload.
TS-11 Iskra bis DF : Two-seat trainer-reconnaissance plane from 1974. It can carry armament, plus three cameras.
TS-11 Iskra R : Two-seater naval reconnaissance plane, equipped with a surveillance radar RDS-81 (6 converted in 1991).
TS-11 Iskra BR 200 : Single-seater attack and reconnaissance plane prototype from 1972, did not enter production.
TS-11 Iskra MR : TS-11 with modernized avionics according to ICAO standard - used by Biało-Czerwone Iskry aerobatics team from 1998.
TS-11 Iskra Jet or TS-11 Spark : After it was withdrawn from service, disarmed, and sold to private users in the USA, Australia and others countries as a warbird (valued for it's double seats and easy handling).

Description

All-metal jet trainer plane, conventional in layout, with mid-wings. Wings are trapezoid-shaped, with leading edge swept at small angle. Air intakes in wings. Single jet engine has an exhaust under a boom with tail fin, which gives the plane an unusual silhouette. The two crewmen have ejector seats. The aircraft has no radar (apart from the TS-11R). It can be fitted with photo cameras.

Specifications (Iskra bis D)

Operators

India, Poland