SZD-11 Albatros
Role	Glider aircraft Type of aircraft
National origin	Poland
Manufacturer	SZD J. Niespał
Designer	Justyn Sandauer
First flight	14 September 1954
Number built	1
Developed from	SZD-8 Jaskółka

The SZD-11 Albatros was a single-seat glider aircraft that was designed and built in Poland at Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny - Glider Experimental Works in Bielsko-Biała in 1954. Only one prototype was completed and flown.

Based on a fuselage of the SZD-8 Jaskółka, the SZD-11 Albatros was designed to investigate the performance of aircraft during flight in thermal lift. The main designer was Justyn Sandauer, and the main constructor was J. Niespał.^[1] With wings of greater span, and reduced empty weight, the wing loading was reduced, markedly improving the climb performance over the 16m-span SZD-8 Jaskółka. Three more SZD-11 aircraft were planned with fixed trailing edges and no flaps, but only the prototype was completed. The SZD-11 first flew on 14 September 1954, flown by Tadeusz Góra.^[1]

Data from http://www.piotrp.de/SZYBOWCE/dszd11.htm

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 7.6 m (24 ft 11 in)
• Wingspan: 18 m (59 ft 0 in)
• Height: 1.41 m (4 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 17.7 m² (191 sq ft)
• Aspect ratio: 18.3
• Airfoil: NACA 23012A
• Empty weight: 208 kg (459 lb)
• Gross weight: 353 kg (778 lb)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 230 km/h (143 mph, 124 kn)
• Stall speed: 52 km/h (32 mph, 28 kn)
• Maximum glide ratio: 26 at 74 km/h (46 mph/40 kts)
• Rate of sink: 0.70 m/s (138 ft/min) at 61 km/h (38 mph/33 kts)

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Pik-3 Kajava

• Coates, Andrew. “Jane's World Sailplanes & Motor Gliders new edition”. London, Jane's. 1980. ISBN 0-7106-0017-8
• Taylor, J. H. (ed) (1989) Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. Studio Editions: London. p. 29

Wikimedia Commons has media related to SZD-11 Albatros.

• https://web.archive.org/web/20070608195616/http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?planeID=459
• http://www.piotrp.de/SZYBOWCE/dszd11.htm