World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe PZL.7 fighters were designed in the early 1930s under the direction of Zygmunt Pulawski. When the prototype first flew in 1930, it quickly impressed the Polish military. By early 1933, PZL.7 fighters were being introduced into service, transforming the Polish air force into the world's first with exclusively all-metal fighters. Although they were highly advanced in 1933, the 1930s was a decade of rapid advancements in aircraft technology, and PZL.7 fighters were quickly rendered out of date. Nevertheless, when the European War began with the German invasion of Poland, 106 PZL.7 fighters were still in service, 30 of which were in front line units. Most PZL.7 fighters were destroyed during the German invasion, though they managed to shoot down seven German aircraft. A few withdrew to Romania and later were captured by the Russians, who used them as trainers.

SPECIFICATIONS

P.7

Machinery	One Bristol Jupiter engine rated at 520hp
Armament	2x7.9mm machine guns
Crew	1
Span	10.57 m
Length	6.98 m
Height	2.69 m
Wing Area	17.90 m²
Weight, Empty	1,090 kg
Weight, Loaded	1,476 kg
Speed, Maximum	327 km/h
Rate of Climb	10.40 m/s
Service Ceiling	8,500 m
Range, Normal	600 km