PZL Mielec TS-11 Iskra (Spark) bis B at KrakowPhotographed on 12 August 2008 in the Polish Aviation Museum (Muzeum Lotnictwa Polskiego Intytucya Kultury Wojewodztwa Malopolskego) in Krakow.
The TS-11 was a 2-seat jet trainer designed in 1958 by a team headed by Tadeusz Soltyk. The first flight of the prototype was in 1960, powered by a Bristol Siddeley Viper 8 engine. Series production began in 1963 in WSK PZL Mielec with HO-10 engines based on the BS Viper, produced in WSK PZL Rzeszow.
The bis B version was produced in 1966, with an HO-10 engine and underwing armament pylons. Production ceased in 1987, after a total of 427 aircraft in 6 different versions had been built.
In 1964 the Iskra broke 4 world speed records for this class of aircraft.
Span: 33 ft, Length: 86.5 ft, Wing area: 186 sq. ft.
The SO-1 turbojet installed in later models had a thrust of 2,200 lb.
Max. speed: 404 knots, Ceiling: 36,000 ft, Range: 648 nm.
Picture added on 19 September 2008
