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Two-seat performance-type glider for high-altitude and cross-country flights and for instrument flight training.

The Bocian (Stork) was designed in 1952 at the Polish Research Institute for Gliding (SZD). Its positive and uncritical flight characteristics and its robustness led to its widespread use in basic flight training. Between 1955 and 1968, Polish pilots established 29 world records with the Bocian. Until 1977, 645 Bocians were produced in several variants. From 1960, the two-seater with the common wooden design of that time, was also sold abroad.

In the GDR, the Bocian was an important training aircraft in the Society for Sports and Technology (Gesellschaft für Sport und Technik GST), with 166 specimen. The glider on display was flown by the GST, with the aircraft identification mark DDR-3237, until the reunification of Germany. Afterwards, it was used by the Flying Club Müncheberg until its maximum allowable flight time of 3000 flying hours was reached. In 2003, it was added to the collection of the Deutsches Museum.

Technical specifications:

  • Manufacturer: Zaklady Sprzetu Lotnictwa Sportowego, Jezow, Poland, 1970
  • Wingspan 18.1 m
  • Wing aspect ratio 16.4
  • Wing load 24 kg/m²
  • Weight, empty 340 kg
  • Minimum sink rate 0.82 m/s at 71 km/h
  • Best glide ratio 26 at 80 km/h