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The PZL P.7 was the Polish fighter aircraft, designed in early-1930s in the PZL factory in Warsaw. It took part in the Polish September Campaign.

1 Development

The history of PZL P.7 started in 1928, when a talented designer, Zygmunt Pulawski designed an all-metal metal-covered monoplane fighter PZL P.1. It introduced a high gull wing, giving a pilot an optimal view. P.1 was powered with an inline engine, and was flown on September 25, 1929. It developed a speed of 302 km/h, but remained a prototype, because it was decided in Poland, that a fighter should be powered with a licence produced radial engine. Therefore, the next model PZL P.6, flown in August 1930, was powered with the Bristol Jupiter VI FH radial engine. Both aircraft met with a huge interest in the world. Their wing design was called the "Polish wing" or "Pulawski wing". During a presentation at the Paris airshow in Le Bourget in December 1931, a military press recognized P.6 as one of the world's top fighters. Then, the prototype P.6 won the American National Air Races in August-September 1931.

The PZL P.6 did not enter production, because the next improved variant PZL P.7 was developed. The first prototype was basically the P.6 with a stronger engine Bristol Jupiter VII F. Thanks to a charger, it showed better performance on higher altitudes. The prototype was first flown in October 1930. After some changes, most noticeably adding a wide Townend ring to the engine and making a tail slimer, the second prototype was accepted for a production with a designation P.7a.

The first series P.7a were built in a mid-1932, the whole series of 149 (plus one prototype) was completed in 1933. The Polish Air Force received P.7a in 1933.

After designing P.7, Pulawski started to develop his design with stronger engines, and the result was PZL P.11The PZL P. 11 was the Polish fighter aircraft, designed in early-1930s in the PZL factory in Warsaw. It was the main fighter in the Polish September Campaign. Development The history of PZL P. 11 started in 1929, when a talented designer, Zygmunt Pulawski, built in a series. Pulawski personally was an inline-engine fan, and he developed also a new fighter P.8, with a slim silhouette, powered with an inline engine and reaching a speed of 350 km/h. A planned serial variant was to be designated P.9. Unfortunately, in March 1931 he died in an air crash, and the work upon fighters with inline engines was canceled in a favour of P.11 with a radial engine. The P.11 became the standard Polish fighter. In parallel with P.11, also a development of an export variant PZL P.24The PZL P. 24 was the Polish fighter aircraft, designed in mid-1930s in the PZL factory in Warsaw. It was exported to several countries, but not used in Poland. Development The PZL P. 24 was developed as an export variant of the PZL P. 11, a gull-wing all started in 1932.

PZL P.7a entered service in the Polish Air Force in early 1933Centuries: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s Years: 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 See also 1933 in aviation 1933 in film 1933 in literature 1933 in mu, replacing PWS-A (licence Avia BH-33) and PWS-10 fighters. Hence the Polish airforce became the first airforce equipped with all-metal fighters only. When P.7 entered service, they were modern fighters, comparable or better than the world's designs, but due to a quick progress in an aircraft technology, they became totally obsolete by 1939. From 1935, in most combat units they were replaced with PZL P.11The PZL P. 11 was the Polish fighter aircraft, designed in early-1930s in the PZL factory in Warsaw. It was the main fighter in the Polish September Campaign. Development The history of PZL P. 11 started in 1929, when a talented designer, Zygmunt Pulawski, which were only slightly more modern. The P.7a were then moved to air schools.