PZL TS-8 Survivors 1:72 ANSWER AA72045

Plastic model airplane to assemble: PZL TS-8 Survivors 1:72 Answer AA72045

The plastic model PZL TS-8 Survivors in 1:72 scale is an excellent proposition for aviation and modeling enthusiasts who wish to recreate in miniature one of the most important Polish training aircraft. This set allows for the construction of a detailed model of the TS-8 Bies airplane, which played a significant role in the history of Polish aviation.

Contents of the set:

• 4 frames with plastic parts
• 88 parts made of gray plastic
• 8 parts made of transparent plastic
• 33 photo-etched parts
• Techmod decals

History of the PZL TS-8 Bies airplane:

The PZL TS-8 Bies is a Polish training aircraft designed in the 1950s by a team led by Assoc. Prof. Eng. Tadeusz Sołtyk. It was the first modern, all-metal airplane designed and built in Poland after World War II. Its design was a response to the demand for a modern training aircraft with a tricycle landing gear that could replace older models such as the Junak 3 and Jak-11.

The first prototype of the TS-8 Bies was flown on July 23, 1955, by test pilot Andrzej Abłamowicz. The aircraft quickly gained recognition for its excellent flying characteristics and performance. In 1957, the TS-8 Bies prototype set three international records in its class, contributing to its international fame. That same year, the aircraft was presented at the Paris Air Show.

Serial production of the TS-8 Bies began in 1957 at the WSK-Okęcie factory and was later continued at WSK Mielec. A total of 250 units of this aircraft were produced, most of which served in the Polish military aviation and later in aeroclubs. The TS-8 Bies was used for basic training, aerobatic training, and flights under visibility conditions. Its cockpit was spacious and comfortable, enhancing pilot comfort during long flights.

The TS-8 Bies was also exported to Indonesia, where two units were used in the local aviation. Although it began to be phased out of Polish military aviation in the mid-1960s in favor of the jet-powered PZL TS-11 Iskra, many TS-8 Bies units found new life in civil aviation, where they served until the late 1970s.

Set for self-assembly and painting. Does not include paints or glue. For assembly, separately sold modeling tools are needed (including cutters, files, tweezers), paints, brushes, and glue for plastic models (e.g., Tamiya Extra Thin Cement). The photo shows a professionally assembled and painted model.