Samolot
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 11 August 1923 |
| Defunct | 1930 |
| Fate | Liquidated |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Ryszard Bartel |
Samolot—officially Wielkopolska Wytwórnia Samolotów Samolot S.A.—was a Polish aerospace company based in Poznań, operational from 1924 until 1930. Among its products were aircraft designed under the Bartel brand. The term Samolot translates directly to airplane in Polish.
History
Established on 11 August 1923 in Poznań, the WWS Samolot factory commenced operations on 24 April 1924.[1] Situated at the Ławica airfield, the facility initially focused on manufacturing licensed versions of French trainer aircraft for the Polish Air Force. These included the Hanriot H.28 with 144 units produced between 1925 and 1926, and the Hanriot HD.19 (designated H-19 locally), with 80 examples built from 1925 to 1928.[2] Additionally, an air ambulance variant of the H.28, known as the H.28S, was developed and saw production of 16 units during 1927–1928.[1]
In 1925, the company designed its own sports aircraft, the Sp-I, with a single unit constructed. Starting in 1926, under the leadership of Ryszard Bartel, the design bureau began creating trainer aircraft tailored for the Polish Air Force. After producing one prototype of the Bartel BM-2, a batch of 22 Bartel BM-4 planes was completed in 1928; this marked the first Polish-designed aircraft to enter serial production.[1] Subsequently, between 1928 and 1929, a series of 60 Bartel BM-5 trainers was manufactured. The final model developed was the trainer-fighter Bartel BM-6, which flew in 1930 but remained at the prototype stage.[1]
Beyond Bartel’s projects, other designers created prototypes of sports planes such as (HL-2, MN-3, MN-5, O-2) and gliders within the Samolot facility; however, none of these advanced to mass production.[1] Beginning in 1927, the factory diversified into producing automobile bodies mounted on imported chassis, including buses, Ford A30 automobiles, and luxury vehicles.
Following a damaging fire on 12 September 1929 and a decline in orders, Samolot ceased operations and was liquidated in 1930.[1] Its equipment was subsequently acquired by PZL. The development of the Bartel BM-4 series was continued by PWS.
Aircraft
| Model designation | Maiden flight | Quantity produced | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samolot Sp.I | 1926 | 1 | Experimental single-engine monoplane |
| Bartel BM-1 | Not applicable | 0 | Proposed single-engine monoplane fighter, never constructed |
| Bartel BM-2 | 1926 | 1 | Single-engine biplane designed for training purposes |
| Medwecki HL 2 | 1927 | 1 | Monoplane sport aircraft powered by a single engine |
| Bartel BM-4 | 1927 | approximately 75 | Single-engine biplane used as a trainer |
| Bartel BM-5 | 1928 | 62 | Biplane trainer with a single engine |
| Offierski O.2 | 1928 | 1 | Sport monoplane with a single engine |
| Medwecki and Nowakowski M.N.2 | Not applicable | 0 | Twin-engine monoplane bomber project never realized |
| Medwecki and Nowakowski M.N.3 | 1928 | 1 | Single-engine sport monoplane |
| Bartel BM-6 | 1930 | 1 | Biplane trainer powered by a single engine |
| Medwecki and Nowakowski M.N.5 | 1930 | 1 | Single-engine biplane designed for sport flying |
| Medwecki and Nowakowski M.N.4 | 1933 | 1 | Monoplane sport aircraft with one engine |
Notes
Bibliography
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