PZL Bielsko SZD 50-3 Puchacz

For Sale – SZD 50-3 Puchacz (Owl, or Eagle Owl)

Date of 1st test flight at the factory: August 11, 1992

I am listing this glider on behalf of the Minnesota Soaring Club.

This is an excellent example of this wonderful training sailplane.  It was purchased new by the Minnesota Soaring Club in 1992.   It is still owned by the MN Soaring Club (one owner).  Many soaring club members love the light feel of the controls, excellent handling, and extremely effective airbrakes.  It is very maneuverable for a 2-seat sailplane – thanks to its very large control surfaces.  It is currently flying after some recent maintenance.  It is being sold because the club has ordered a new ASK 21B.

This example is in excellent condition.  It has been stored in a dry hangar, assembled.  It has never been left outside.  Accordingly, the gelcoat is in very good shape. 

This glider has never been damaged or broken – no accidents.

Another key feature of this glider is that it has a very respectable useful load.  It can carry 2 good-sized pilots with parachutes.  The useful load is about 416 pounds - in logbook from April 6, 2004. 

The seats are designed to accommodate taller pilots.

2022 Maintenance

• Main landing gear overhauled using factory supplied kit
• New bungee cord installed
• New wheel brake friction material
• New tires and tubes for both main and nose gear
• AD related to dive brakes complied with - required holes to be cut in the top of both wings

A wooden trailer is included.  It was not designed for this glider but can be used with the glider – as long as the glider’s canopy is removed, and many helpers are available.  New tires were put on and the wheel bearings were repacked in 2021.

Total Time: 2,626 hours as of July 8, 2022

Currently in active service for the MN Soaring Club

The glider has a 6000 hour life limit

Max front seat weight normal flight is 240 poundsMax total weight normal flight is 1256 poundsThe Owl weighed 817 pounds at purchase (I don't believe it has been reweighed since purchase in 1992). The logbook shows a weight of 840 lbs on April 6, 2004, so the max total weight of passengers/chutes/luggage is 416 pounds (probably a bit less with the inevitable increase of weight with aging).

Instruments

• Walter Dittel FSG 2T radio with 2 boom microphones
• 2 x 80 mm PZL Mechanical Variometers
• 1 x Tasman V1000 electric vario
• 1 x G-meter (mechanical)
• 2 x 80 mm airspeed indicators
• 2 x 80 mm altimeters

Specifications (Wikipedia)

• Length: 8.38 m (27 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan: 16.67 m (54 ft 8 in)
• Height: 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)
• Wing area: 18.16 m2 (195.5 sq ft)
• Aspect ratio: 15.3
• Airfoil: NN-8
• Stall speed: 32 knots
• Never exceed speed: 116 knots in smooth air
• 86 knots in rough air
• 81 knots on aero-tow
• 59 knots on winch launch
• G limits: +5.3 -2.65
• Maximum glide ratio: 32
• Best glide speed: 46 knots