J.Cynk Polish Aircraft 1893-1939 (Putnam)

Rudlicki R-I

   In 1912-13 Jerzy Rudlicki prepared a study for his first powered design, a small tractor monoplane, which was retrospectively designated R-I. Construction of the airframe, undertaken by Rudlicki and Dobrowolski, began in Odessa towards the end of 1913, being assembled in the post-exhibition aviation hall, and the Odessa Flying Club, which helped the enthusiasts, supplied a 25 hp Anzani three-cylinder air-cooled semi-radial.
   The machine was completed in the late summer of 1914 and was test-flown at the outbreak of war, during Rudlicki's absence, by his friend, Capt Grekov of the Combat Maritime Battalion. The aircraft is believed to have made three or four flights, but was subsequently damaged during an emergency landing after the failure of the unreliable Anzani engine.
   Meanwhile Rudlicki evolved two developments of the basic R-I design adapted for more powerful engines, the R-II with a superior double-surfaced wing equipped with ailerons, and the R-III, which in addition to the improvements embodied in the R-II, was to dispense with the forward elevator, but neither of these projects progressed beyond the drawing-board stage. During the war, the designer, who distinguished himself in service with the Russian Imperial Flying Service first as an observer and then as a pilot, evolved proposals for revised developments of the Spad A4 (which had the observer's cockpit in front separated from the pilot's cockpit by the airscrew). These were to have been the R-IV with a rotary engine and the R-V with a water-cooled engine, but neither was constructed.

Construction: The R-I was a light single-seat wire-braced monoplane of wooden construction. The wing, with an area of 15 sq m (161.5 sq ft), was a two-spar structure with cambered ribs covered with fabric on the upper surface only. The wing, attached to the fuselage upper longerons and braced by wires to the cabane on top of the fuselage and to the landing gear framework, was provided with a warping system. The fuselage, with a quadrilateral forward section and triangular rear section, was covered with plywood and fabric. The forward elevator, operating in conjunction with the rear elevator, was carried on sledge-shaped outriggers in front of the airscrew, and the tail unit was a conventional braced monoplane structure incorporating a fin, rudder, tailplane and elevator. The undercarriage comprised a cross-axle and two mainwheels attached by shock-absorbing rubber cords to the sledge-shaped outrigger structure. The overall dimensions of the R-I included the span of 9 m (29 ft 6 3/4 in) and length also of 9 m (29 ft 6 3/4 in). Its loaded weight was 230 kg (507 lb).