The **PZL Bielsko SZD-30 Pirat** is a Polish single-seat, standard-class sailplane (glider) developed in the early 1970s. Here’s a detailed profile:

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## Overview

**Name:** SZD-30 Pirat  
**Manufacturer:** SZD (Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny – Glider Experimental Works), later PZL Bielsko  
**Role:** Single-seat sailplane (glider)  
**First Flight:** 1971  
**Primary Use:** Training, sport flying, and club operations  
**Production Years:** Early 1970s onward

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## Design and Development

- The SZD-30 Pirat was created as a **successor to the SZD-22 Mucha Standard**. The idea was to deliver an affordable, robust, and reliable glider that could serve both as a trainer and for competition in the Standard Class.
- The prototype first flew in **December 1971**.  
- The aircraft was designed to be easy to fly, rugged for club use, and forgiving for pilots making the transition from training gliders to higher-performance ships.

### Construction

- **Fuselage:** Welded steel-tube frame covered with plywood and fabric.
- **Wings:** All-wooden structure, using plywood and fabric. Features an all-moving tailplane (stabilator), single-spar wing, and Schempp-Hirth air brakes.
- **Undercarriage:** Fixed monowheel with a nose skid and small tail wheel.

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## Technical Specifications (Typical)

- **Class:** Standard Class (15 m wingspan)
- **Length:** 7.42 m (24 ft 4 in)
- **Wingspan:** 15 m (49 ft 3 in)
- **Wing area:** 15.4 m² (166 sq ft)
- **Aspect ratio:** 14.6
- **Empty weight:** ~265 kg (584 lb)
- **Max takeoff weight:** ~390 kg (860 lb)
- **Glide ratio (L/D max):** ~34:1
- **Minimum sink rate:** ~0.70 m/s (138 ft/min)
- **Maximum speed:** ~200 km/h (120 mph)

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## Operational Use

- **Pilots:** Extremely popular as a club and training glider in Poland and internationally.  
- **Ruggedness:** Renowned for its robustness and forgiving handling characteristics—ideal for transitioning pilots.  
- **Aerotow/Winch:** Capable of both aero-tow and winch launching.
- **Performance:** While not a high-performance competition glider by modern standards, the Pirat is respected for its predictable handling, good thermalling characteristics, and suitability for cross-country flights.

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## Popularity and Legacy

- Over **800 Pirats** were built, with many exported to gliding clubs abroad.
- Still seen in use today in many parts of the world, especially in Poland, Eastern Europe, and some Western countries.
- The Pirat contributed greatly to the development of postwar Polish gliding and pilot training standards.

### Notable Features:

- Simple, classic design.
- Good visibility from the cockpit.
- Relatively easy to maintain due to simple construction.

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## References & Further Reading

- [Wikipedia - SZD-30 Pirat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SZD-30_Pirat)
- Flight manuals and club reviews.
- GliderData and SailplaneDirectory profiles.

If you have *specific questions* about the Pirat (handling, modifications, flight experience, etc.), let me know!
