Lukasiewicz I-45 JAY Blazes Through Initial Flight Testing

Polish engineers from the Lukasiewicz Institute of Aviation recently sent up their aerobatic glider, the I-45 JAY, for initial flight tests. The aircraft continues a long legacy of iconic Polish innovations, including the SZD-21 Kobuz, S-1 Swift, and MDM-1 Fox.

The team claims that the JAY is the worlds-first aerobatic glider constructed using pre-impregnation technology, which essentially means that its wing and component materials are soaked in resin before being constructed. It is a modern alternative to conventional aerospace metals and reduces weight while maintaining durability and corrosion resistance.

The design was created using specialized 3D software to create a high-performance and aerodynamic frame. Engineers also paid extra attention to historically ignored features, including easier handling, simple transportation, a more comfortable cockpit, and improved visibility to make the I-45 JAY more pilot-friendly.

“And the most important issue, a nod to acrobatic pilots - the glider's design assumes permissible overloads of +10/-8 G,” noted Dawid Ulma, JAY program manager.

With its maiden flight already out of the way, the I-45 JAY is well on its way to becoming the latest Polish glider masterpiece. The nation has a rich history in gliding, beginning with a design team in the mid-1930s tasked with creating an aerobatic glider.

“The I-45 JAY aerobatic glider is the successor to such world-famous designs as the SZD-21 Kobuz, S-1 Swift or MDM-1 Fox,” explained Lukasiewicz test pilot Mariusz Stajewski. “Given the shortage of specialized aerobatic gliders on the market, it can be assumed that the international community of aerobatic glider pilots would like the I-45 JAY to quickly appear in world-class competitions.”

The I-45 JAY’s debut comes at a perfect time. As previous Polish gliders age out of service, the aircraft will fill a gap in an extremely specialized market that other nations have left practically untapped.

“We believe that aviation manufacturers will see the potential in gliding and that Poland will once again play an important role in this segment of the economy,” expressed Dr. Pawel Stezycki, Director of the Lukasiewicz Institute of Aviation.

FMI: https://ilot.lukasiewicz.gov.pl