Is it possible to design a glider in just a few months, leveraging the best solutions from previous designs? The SZD-43 Orion, the star of the latest film in the series dedicated to the exhibits from the “Downwind and Upwind – Civil Aviation” exhibition, is living proof that it is!
What to do when the deadline is fast approaching, and there’s simply not enough time to design a new glider from scratch? This was the challenge faced by designers from the Glider Experimental Station in Bielsko-Biała in the early 1970s. Preparing the Polish team for the 13th World Gliding Championships, they decided to base the new design on solutions proven in earlier projects. Thus, the SZD-43 Orion was born.
In the latest film in the series dedicated to exhibits from the “With the Wind and Against the Wind – Civil Aviation” exhibition, which received the Sybilla 2025 award, we discuss the development of the Orion, its technical solutions, and its sporting successes. We also explain why, despite its excellent performance and international medals, the glider never saw mass production.
Today, the only surviving example of the Orion can be seen in our permanent exhibition. We invite you to watch the film and learn about the history of this extraordinary structure.
