In 1946, the LWD (Aviation Design Workshops) undertook the design and construction of a training aircraft powered by a radial M-11D engine. The new design was intended to be easy to maintain and fly. The following year, a two-seat training low-wing monoplane of mixed construction was completed.
It featured fixed landing gear and an enclosed cockpit. The Junak prototype was first flown on 22 February 1948. The aircraft proved to be a successful design — stable, responsive, and easy to fly. After minor improvements, it entered production as the Junak 2. Its further development was the Zuch 1, created in 1948.
The next modification of the Junak was developed in 1952 by a design team led by engineer Tadeusz Soltyk at the Institute of Aviation as a military order.
The main change consisted of introducing tricycle landing gear with a nose wheel. In addition, the airframe received a different propeller, a radio set and radio compass, and a modified fuel system. The prototype was first flown on 7 August 1953 and proved to be a successful design.
Serial Junak-3 aircraft were introduced into service at the Officers’ Aviation School in Deblin in 1954, replacing the retired Junak-2s. Between 1954 and 1956, WSK Okecie produced 146 aircraft of this type. Replaced by “Bies” trainers, they served in the military until 1961, although from 1956 they were already being transferred to aero clubs, where they flew until 1972. The last decommissioned example bore the registration SP-BOG.
The exhibited WSK TS-9 Junak 3 aircraft, factory number 13-9578 and registration SP-BPL, was built in 1955 and comes from the last production series. It was transferred to the Museum collection from its last operator, the Krakow Aero Club, in 1969.
| Wingspan | 9.9 m |
| Length | 7.8 m |
| Takeoff weight | 1080 kg |
| Maximum speed | 205 km/h |
| Ceiling | 4100 m |
| Range | 450 km |
| Armament | – |
| Engine | radial WSK (Shvetsov licence) M-11Fr, 160 hp (118 kW) |
