TS-11 Iskra

The PZL TS-11 Iskra (Polish "Spark") is a Polish jet trainer aircraft, used by the air forces of Poland and India.

Development

The aircraft was designed in response to a Polish Air Force requirement for a jet trainer. The main designer was Tadeusz Soltyk - hence a designation letters TS. The new plane was the first jet aircraft designed in Poland. Work started in 1957, the first prototype powered by an imported British Armstrong Siddeley Viper 8 of 7.80 kN (1,750 lb_f) was flown on February 5, 1960. The next two prototypes, with a Polish copy of the Viper engine named the WSK HO-10 engine were flown in March and July 1961.

The new plane fulfiled requirements and, after tests, was accepted for the Polish Air Force as the TS-11 Iskra bis A, produced since 1963. From about 1966, the aircraft were produced with a new Polish-designed engine WSK SO-1 with thrust of 9.80 kN (2,200 lb_f). From 1969, WSK SO-3 engines with longer time between overhauls were used and later improved version WSK SO-3W with thrust of 10.80 kN (2,425 lb_f).

Service history

In 1964, the TS-11 prototype beat four world records in its class, among others the speed record of 839 km/h (524 mph). The Iskra competed as the standard jet trainer for the Warsaw Pact, but due to a political decision, the slightly inferior Czech Aero L-29 Delfin was chosen. Poland became the only Warsaw Pact country using the Iskra. 424 aircraft were built by 1987, when production ceased. 50 aircraft Iskra bis D were exported to India in 1975, then further 26 in the 1990s.

In 2002, Poland still had 110 TS-11s, including 5 TS-11Rs. The Iskra became Polish first and only jet trainer so far - the programme for a succesor, the PZL-Mielec I-22 Iryda , (later designated M-93 Iryda) failed for several reasons and few were built. In the Indian service, Iskra was withdrawn by December 16, 2004.

From 1969 TS-11s have been used by the Polish aerobatics team, initially called "Rombik", and currently "Bialo-Czerwone Iskry " ("White-and-Red Iskras").

Variants

• TS-11 Iskra bis A
• TS-11 Iskra bis B - trainer aircraft with 4 weapon pods (prototype named TS-11 Iskra 100)
• TS-11 Iskra bis C - single-seater reconnaissance plane from 1971 (prototype named TS-11 Iskra 200 Art). Only 5 built in 1972, in 1983 converted to trainers
• TS-11 Iskra bis D - trainer aircraft from 1973 (prototype named TS-11 Iskra 200 SB) with bigger payload
• TS-11 Iskra bis DF - trainer-reconnaissance plane from 1974
• TS-11 Iskra R - two-seater naval reconnaissance plane, equipped with a surveillance radar RDS-81 (6 converted in 1991)
• TS-11 Iskra BR 200 - single-seater attack and reconnaissance plane prototype from 1972, did not enter production
• TS-11 Iskra MR - TS-11 with modernized avionics according to ICAO standard - used by Bialo-Czerwone Iskry aerobatics team from 1998
• TS-11 Iskra Jet or TS-11 Spark - withdrawn from service, disarmed, and sold to privat users from USA, Australia and others.

Description

All-metal jet trainer plane, conventional in layout, with mid-wings. Wings are trapezoid-shaped, with leading edge swept at small angle. Air intakes in wings. Single jet engine has an exhaust under a boom with tail fin, which gives the plane an unusual silhouette. The two crewmen have ejector seats. The aircraft has no radar (apart from the TS-11R). It can be fitted with photo cameras.

Specifications (Iskra bis D)

General Characteristics

• Crew: Two - student and instructor
• Length: 11.15 m (36 ft 7 in)
• Wingspan: 10.06 m (33 ft)
• Height: 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in)
• Wing area: 17.50 m² 188 ft²
• Empty: 2,560 kg (5,632 lb)
• Loaded: 3,724 kg (8,193 lb)
• Maximum takeoff: 3,840 kg (8,448 lb)
• Powerplant: 1x WSK SO-3W , 10.8 kN (2,425 lb_f) thrust

Performance

• Maximum speed: 720 km/h (450 mph)
• Range: 1,260 km (783 miles)
• Service ceiling: 11,000 m (26,080 ft)
• Rate of climb: 888 m/min (2,913 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 213 kg/m² (43.6 lb/ft²)
• Thrust/Weight: 2.85 N/kg (0.30 lb_f/lb)

Armament

• 1x 23 mm 115P cannon or 150P cannon in nose
• 4 underwing pylons, up to 400 kg (880 lb) of bombs or unguided rocket pods Zeus-1 or Mars-4

Related Content

Comparable Aircraft: Aermacchi MB-326 - Aero L-29 - Jet Provost - Yak-30 - Fouga Magister

Designation Sequence: TS-7 - TS-8 - TS-9 - TS-11 - TS-15 - TS-16 - TS-17