PZL P.38 Wilk

The PZL.38 Wilk (wolf) was a Polish fighter-bomber developed and manufactured by PZL state factory in 1937.

In 1937 two prototypes of the PZL.38 were built. The first prototype PZl.38/I, received PZL Foka engine. This aircraft was shown at the 1938 Paris Air Show. First flown in February or March 1939 it did not meet the expected performance (estimated maximum speed was 520 km/h, while it hardly reached 465 km/h). It was also too heavy (2155 kg instead of 1715 kg) and its useful load was too small. The second prototype, PZl.38/II received American Ranger SGV-770B engines (420-450 hp), which were less powerful than the PZL “Foka” engine. As a result, it also failed to meet expected performance. The second prototype first flew in April or May 1936. Because of the poor performance, further development of the PZL.38 Wilk and Foka engine was abandoned in the spring of 1939, in a favour of a new aircraft, the PZL.48 Lampart, a modification of the Wilk with radial engines.

General characteristics

• Crew: 2, pilot, rear gunner/bombardier
• Length: 8.35 m (27 ft 5 in)
• Wingspan: 11.05 m (36 ft 3 in)
• Height: 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 20.4 m² (220 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 2,155 kg (4,751 lb)
• Gross weight: 2,800 kg (6,173 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × PZL Foka air-cooled 8-cylinder V-engine, 370 kW (490 hp) each
• Propellers: 2-bladed

Performance

• Maximum speed: 465 km/h (289 mph, 251 kn) estimated 520 km/h
• Stall speed: 120 km/h (75 mph, 65 kn)
• Range: 850 km (530 mi, 460 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 9,000 m (30,000 ft) estimated
• Rate of climb: 8 m/s (1,600 ft/min) estimated
• Wing loading: 137 kg/m² (28 lb/sq ft)

Armament

• 1 x 20 mm FK-A cannon fixed in nose
• 2 x 7.92 mm PWU wz.36 machine guns fixed in nose
• 2 x 7.92 mm PWU wz.37 machine guns movable at the upper rear
• 300 kg bombs

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