It is with sadness that we announce the passing of an outstanding Polish glider designer. Dr Eng. Roman Świtkiewicz was a long-time academic at the Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering of the Warsaw University of Technology and an employee of the Department of Aircraft and Helicopters at the Institute of Aeronautics and Applied Mechanics. He educated numerous generations of aviation technologists and designers.
He was the leader of the team that designed 8 composite glider and motor glider constructions from the PW family. His first creation was the ULS (Ultra Light Glider), of which only a prototype was built; it made its maiden flight on 21 September 1981. The empty weight of this ultra-light construction was equivalent to the weight of a light pilot (55 kg). The PW-2 Gapa glider, also produced for export, later evolved from this project. Subsequent aviation designs created under the leadership of Roman Świtkiewicz included:
Over 300 examples of the “Smyk” were produced, and its development was the two-seat PW-6 glider.
Dr Eng. Roman Świtkiewicz remained professionally active until the end of his life, supporting scientific work and student projects.
Sources of photographs used in the header:
