The PZL Bielsko SZD-30 Pirat is a single-seat, mid-wing glider that was designed and produced in Poland by PZL Bielsko. It was originally designed in the early 1970s. Here are the primary elements that you might find interesting:

1. Design and Development: Development of the SZD-30 began in 1969 under the lead of chief designer Roman Zatwarnicki. Its purpose was to be a lower cost and simplified glider for club flying. The first prototype, designated as SZD-30-0, took its maiden flight on August 17, 1971.

2. Features: The SZD-30 is a glider plane constructed mainly from wood and fabric. The wings of the plane utilized a single spar structure, plywood-covered at the front and fabric-covered at the rear. The fuselage and empennage are constructed predominantly from plywood, although fabric coverings are used in some areas. The aircraft is equipped with a non-retractable monowheel undercarriage.

3. Performance: The Pirat has a wingspan of 15 meters and a glide ratio of 28:1, meaning that for every kilometer of height lost, it can glide 28 kilometers horizontally. Its minimum sink rate is 0.85 m/s.

4. Production: A total of about 658 units were produced from the year 1972 till around 1982 and have been flown in many countries around the world such as Poland, Germany, Australia, UK, and Canada. It was replaced in production by the SZD-50 Puchacz.

It's noteworthy to mention that the SZD-30 is considered to be a robust and easy-to-fly glider, making it popular for club gliding and training purposes. However, its moderate performance characteristics mean it is not competitive for high-performance cross-country flying.
