RWD – 8 PWS – the Polish school and training plane

The RWD-8 was a mixed-design Polish training aircraft, a monoplane (called a parasol) construction scheme with an excluded chassis. The base version of the aircraft was powered by a single engine PZInż “Junior” with a power output of 120 h.p. The prototype first took to the air in 1933. Manufactured in series between 1934 and 1939, produced about 550 such aircraft. The plane was not armed. The RWD-8 was originally developed for a competition, announced by the Air and Gas Defense League to design a new primary training aircraft. The initial design work for the RWD-8 at the Experimental Aviation Workshop in Warsaw was carried out by engineer Stanislaw Wigura, and the first prototype was completed in 1933. It undoubtedly won the competition and proved to be a very easy-to-pilot machine, providing high flight safety, comfortable work for the student and instructor, and was relatively inexpensive. The Polish army quickly became interested in the project, and in 1934 ordered these planes, the version for which was produced at the PWS plant in Biała, Podlaskie. The civilian version of the RWD-8 has served in many flying clubs across the country. In the military version, they were intended for initial pilot training. They were used by Deblin, Bydgoszcz and Krosno Aviation Schools. During the September campaign, the RWD-8 also served as a communications machine. After the capitulation in September 1939, the surviving RWD-8s were evacuated to Romania, Finland, Latvia, and Hungary.

Small, uncomplicated, well-designed, perfectly detailed (there is even good cab equipment) for modelers of any experience. The most difficult place is the installation of a parasol-type wing on the torso through a rather complex system of springs. Inexperienced modelers are encouraged to work under the guidance of a more experienced colleague. Antiquarian publication.