Nikol A-2

Template:Infobox Aircraft Nikol A-2 was a prototype of a Polish amphibious flying boat built in 1939 by Jerzy Nikol.

Development history

Jerzy Nikol started designing of a small amphibious flying boat A-2 in 1929, when the Polish Navy revealed interest in obtaining a small seaplane to use on major ships, first of all ORP Gryf large minelayer. The planes of fitting Gryf with a board aircraft gear were eventually abandoned, though. The A-2 was then intended as a patrol and training aircraft the the Polish Navy, and also as a technology demonstrator of a proposed bigger 4-seater two-engined flying boat A-1 (or A-4). Its possible use was also in the Riverine Flotila in Pinsk. In 1935 the A-2 design was approved by the Aviation Technical Research Institute.

The work on a prototype construction started in 1936 in a semi-amateur way, in workshops of the Naval Aviation Squadron (MDLot) in Puck, without official order of the Navy. The airbase was not suitable for aeroplane construction and lacked experienced engineers, and it was not until March of 1939 that the prototype was finally completed. It first flew on March 4, 1939, as a pure flying boat, without a landing gear yet. During further trials, it was fitted with a retractable landing gear.

Operational history

After the German invasion of Poland and the first unsuccessful air raid on a base in Puck on 1 September 1939, all Polish seaplanes were evacuated from Puck to Hel Peninsula. The A-2 prototype was evacuated to naval harbour in Hel. It was slightly damaged due to further air raids (older sources claimed, it was destroyed).

The damaged prototype was captured by the Germans and taken to Rostock. As is apparent from one photo, it received German non typical registration D-GÖTZ (it might have been false registration). Its further fate is not known.

Operators

Germany

• Kriegsmarine captured the only prototype.

Poland

• Polish Navy

Specifications

Description

Wooden construction high-wing cantilever monoplane flying boat. A fuselage semi-monocoque, plywood-covered, bottom single-stepped. Engine on a strutted pylon above a fuselage, with a three-blade pusher propeller. Two-spar trapezoid wings wing rounded ends, plywood and canvas covered. Twin strutted tailfins. Crew of two, with twin controls, sitting side by side in a closed cockpit. Retractable landing gear, main gear was folding under wings. Auxiliary floats under wings. Fuel tanks 235 l in a fuselage and central wing part.

General characteristics

• Crew: 1, pilot
• Capacity: 1

Performance Armament

• unarmed

References

• Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" (Polish aviation constructions 1893-1939), WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 (Polish language, no ISBN)
• Nikol A-2

External links

• Photos and description (in Polish)