PZL P.7

PZL P.7 was a Polish fighter aircraft designed in early-1930 in the PZL factory in Warsaw. State-of-the-art construction, one of the first all-metal monoplane fighters in the world, in 1933-1935 it was the main fighter Polish Air Force.

Over 30 P.7 fighters remained in service in the Polish Defensive War in 1939, scoring despite several scoring obsolescence.

At the outbreak of World War II on 1 September 1939 the Polish Air Force was still 30 PZL P.7a fighters in combat units. In addition, 40 was in the air in schools, 35 in reserve or repairs - a total of 106 available aircraft. P.7as three fleet used, each with 10 aircraft. 123.

Pursuit Squadron was the Brigade, deployed around Warsaw, 151 and 162 Squadrons was ordered to descend hosts. Despite the outdated, they took part in the defense of the German invasion of Poland. Aside from combat units, at least 18 P.7a fighters were mobilized units of improvised at air bases in Dęblin and Ülez.

Although P.7 was better maneuverability than their German opponents, and could operate from short fields (150 m starts), even if they are rough, almost all of the German machines were faster than P.7a. In addition, the Polish aircraft and their engines were worn out the use of intensive service. They weaponry was insufficient - only two Vickers machine guns in most aircraft, which had a tendency to jam (air-number 6.109 were replaced by more PWU wz.33 FK).

As a result, pilots flying P.7a claimed shooting down only seven German aircraft manufacturer (two He 111s, two Do 17s, one Hs 126 and two Bf 110s), suffering combat losses of 22 aircraft. Improvised working group P.7a air units air bases was quite confused and interfere with the German bombing of an aggressive presence of, as you shoot down the bombers.

Most P.7a fighters were destroyed in 1939, the battles or on the ground, a dozen were raised in Romania, but was not used to fight there. Some of the captured P.7s used the German education. Several aircraft captured by the Soviet Union (the exact number is not known), and had the following instruction to education.

General Features
Crew: 1
Capacity: Fighter
Length: 6.98 m (22 ft 11 in)
Wingspan: 10.57 m (34 ft 8 in)
Height: 2.69 m (8 ft 10)
Wing area: 17.9 m² (193 ft 2)
Empty Weight: 1090 kg (2400 lb)
Loaded weight: 1476 kg (3254 lb)
Payload: 386 kg ()
Powerplant: 1 × Bristol Jupiter VIIf 9-cylinder radial engine, 520 hp (388 kW)
Maximum speed: 327 km / h (203 mph)
Cruise speed: 285 km / h
Stall speed: 104 km / h
Range: 600 km (370 mi)
Service ceiling: 8500 m (27900 ft)
Rising speed: 62.4 m / min (10.4 m / s) (2047.2 ft / min)
Wing load: 82.5 kg / m²
Armament: 2 x 7.9 mm Vickers machine guns E (later series: PWU FK wz.33 machine guns)