PZL SZD-30 Pirat

The SZD-30 Pirat is a single-seat multipurpose glider aircraft from the Polish firm PZL Bielsko which first flew in 1966, and began production in 1967.

Development
The SZD-30 is largely constructed out of wood. The high-mounted wing incorporates air brakes on both the upper and lower surfaces. The inner section of the wing is constant-chord and the outer section is tapered.

The forward section of the otherwise all-wood fuselage is made of fiberglass. The single-wheel main landing gear is fixed, the formed one-piece canopy is side-mounted, the fuselage can be equipped with radios and an oxygen system. There are also two baggage compartments.

Variants

 * SZD-30 – Initial production version
 * SZD-30B – A single prototype
 * SZD-30C – Later production version, with smaller partially balanced ailerons made of fiberglass, and a larger cockpit. The first -30C flew on 10 January 1978.

Operational limitations
In 2011, following a number of cases of glue failure in the wooden joints, leading to structural failure, the type certificate holder issued a bulletin which reduced a number of the limiting speeds of the aircraft. Specifically, the maximum speed (VNE) was reduced to 195 km/h (121 mph, 105 knots) and aerobatic flight was prohibited.