Students reconstructed the first Warsaw University of Technology glider
Source: Warsaw University of Technology
SL-1 Akar - the first glider built at Warsaw University of Technology in the early twentieth century, has been reconstructed. The reconstruction has been carried out by the members of the Students Aviation Association, who presented their work on 13 - 16 May in the main building of the university.
SL-1 Akar glider was designed and built by students of WUT. It was a twin-fuselage glider with curb weight of 80 kg. Up in the air it reached about 45km/h speed, which enabled a steady and safe flight. Although it was one of the best early Polish gliders, only one unit was built. SL abbreviation stands for the Polish name Sekcja Lotnicza (Aviation Section), Akar is an acronym of the main designer’s name, Adam Karpiński.
"Building a glider was a big challenge for the young adepts of aeronautical engineering. Not only they did not have enough experience but also gliding was only just starting in Poland and the airplane designers were not so keen on it just yet" - informs Warsaw University of Technology on its website.
Students therefore decided to design a simple glider and implement few latest innovative improvements. Apart from these few innovative solutions, Akar was a classic design created mainly at the initiative of students who wanted to test their skills.
Akar was a sensation during the 1st Glider’s Competition in Summer 1923 in Białka near Nowy Targ. The designer’s brother Tadeusz Karpiński and Ryszard Bartel took respectively 1st and 2nd place. The winner managed to do the flight in 165 seconds. "One year later, the same pilot in Akar set Polish glider’s flight length record - 4 minutes and 5 seconds. After covering roughly 2km distance, the flight ended with emergency landing, in the glider was damaged and flight capability was never restored" - according to Warsaw University of Technology.
As part of the official celebrations of 100 Years of the Revival of the Warsaw University of Technology, the Students Aviation Association at The Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering had attempted to reconstruct Akar. Part of the construction was made at the Glider Factory “Jeżów” in Jeżów Sudecki.
Reconstruction of the glider proved difficult and time-consuming. The preserved documentation glider is limited to a few photos, the analysis of which allows to determine the proportions and, for example, the number of ribs and leading edges in the wing. "But this is only a fraction of the information needed for reconstruction. Contemporary constructions of similar kind, as well books written on the topic of gliders’ construction and design were a very valuable source of information and inspiration for the young designers" - reports the Warsaw university on its website.
The result of students\' work - the replica of SL-1 AKAR was available for viewing during the exhibition ”On the wings of time – Warsaw University of Technology aviators and aircrafts”, which was organized in the Main Building of WUT between 13th and 16th May.
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