SZD-21 Kobuz

what is it?

The SZD-21 Kobuz was a single-seat aerobatic glider designed and built in Poland at Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny (Glider Experimental Works) in Bielsko-Biała from 1958.

🔎How to recognise it: mid wing · 14 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 250 km/htop speed
• size 401 kgmax take-off weight
• built 32made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 65 years ago, in 1961.
• 🏎️Top speed is 1.9× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
• 🚗Wingspan of 14 m: about 3 cars parked nose to tail.

no engine: No engine: it glides on rising air.

spec sheet

first flight

1961-06-03

number built

32

role

glider

origin

Polish People's Republic

makers

Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny

engines

none (glider)

crew

1

length

7.3 m

wingspan

14 m

height

1.9 m

max take-off weight

401 kg

top speed

250 km/h

range

—

wings

mid wing

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.