PZL S-4 "Kania 3" - the Polish training and glider towing aircraft

In the early 1950s eng. Eugeniusz Stankiewicz designed a training aircraft to train pilots and tow gliders, named PZL S-3 "Kania". This aircraft was built in 1951, but it was not allowed to operate, and the prototype, that was parked at the airfield of the Warsaw Aeroclub, eventually completely disintegrated. In 1956 the Communication Equipment Factory in Mielec became interested in this plane. The project was modified, and the new one was named PZL S-4 "Kania 2". This prototype took off for the first time on September 2, 1957. Another prototype was then built, designated PZL S-4 "Kania 3", which had an enlarged keel, this prototype first flew in 1958 September 19. Construction of another prototype, marked PZL S-4 "Kania 4", was also started, which was completed only in 1964 at the Krosno Aviation Repair Plant. After the production of the second prototype by WSK "Mielec", further production of this type of aircraft was abandoned, as the production of the M 11 engines, that were to be used to power the aircraft, was discontinued in Poland. Ultimately, three prototypes of the PZL S-4 "Kania" aircraft were produced. PZL S-4 "Kania" airplanes were used in flying clubs to tow gliders, the first two prototypes "Kania 2" (reg. no. SP-PAA) and "Kania 3" (reg. no. SP-PBB) were used at the Mielec Aeroclub, the third - "Kania 4" (reg. no. reg. SP-PBE) in Krosna, "Aeroclub Podkarpacki". In the early 1970s they were removed from the list of aircraft in service. After the end of operation, the PZL S-4 "Kania 3" was transferred to the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków, where it remains today.

A compact, well-designed and richly detailed model airplane for intermediate and advanced modelers. The seemingly simple model is not like that - it is complicated by the rich detailing of the interior of the cabins and the semi-open layout of the M-11 radial engine with cylinders, protruding from the cladding, which is almost impossible to simplify. The interior of the cabins will not be abandoned either - they are open. And the installation of the "parasol" type wing... There is a small stock of colors, the instructions are simply excellent.