Sukhoi Su-20 supersonic fighter-bomber with a variable swept wing (variable wing geometry) model. It was the first aircraft of its kind in the Polish army (Polish Air Force). This article reviews the situation with the equipment and use of the Su-20 in the Polish Air Force by the author of the original article.
Prologue to the introduction of Su-20 aircraft to equip Polish military aviation (Polish Air Force).
Before discussing the Polish Su-20 aircraft, we came to the Warsaw Parade Square on July 22, 1974. At one point, their gaze turned to the sky. Against the backdrop of a blue sky, five tiny dots transform into distinctive outlines. As they approach the capital, their speed increases. Five jets enter vertical flight with high acceleration in horizontal flight, leaving a wake. Subsequently, changes in the geometry of the wing were demonstrated. These aircraft were the first fighter-bombers of the Polish army to be equipped with a variable sweep wing, the Su-20. These aircraft aroused great interest and at the same time brought another advance to Polish aviation.
The Su-20 aircraft was also shown on television, in a short film in July 1974 showed preparations for the July parade. The planes flying in line show how to change the wing angles. Even then, it was possible to observe a change in the angle of inclination of the wing, which took about 15 seconds.
Sukhoi Su-20 No. 4242, 2007, Krakow-Rakovice-Chizhny Airport (this airport is an abandoned airport in Krakow, Poland)
The history of Polish purchases of the Su-20
In the early 70s of the last century, Poland began to look for a successor to the Il-28 bomber. The last six Il-28 bombers were decommissioned in 1979, but in fact did not constitute any combat value for the entire decade. The USSR offered MiG-23 BN or Su-20 aircraft as options. Both aircraft feature variable sweep wing technology. Polish experts analyzed the suitability of these aircraft in Polish aviation. According to Polish experts, none of the aircraft offered did not meet their requirements. But there was no other alternative at the time. The Su-20 was ultimately chosen because it was a cheaper and largely similar to the various Su-7 aircraft already in service with Poland.
Sukhoi Su-20 No. 7125, 2012, Krakow-Rakovice-Chizhny Airport
Deliveries of the Su-20
At the beginning of 1974, a group of pilots and technicians went to Krasnodar to be trained in new aircraft. Among the pilots were: Major Macei Pashkovsky, commander of the 7th Bombardment Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment from Povez in 1974-1975, Lieutenant Pilot Bogdan Lis, Captain Tadeusz Kovodeziczyk, etc. They were the first pilots to independently fly the Su-20 in Krasnodar. Due to poor weather conditions, the training time was extended. During this training period, the pilot, Captain Tadeusz Kovodezichik, tragically lost his life during a Su-20 flight.
The first batch of 6 Su-20 aircraft was delivered to Poland in 1974. On 26 April 1974, the aircraft landed at Porvez airport. The aircraft, numbered from 01 to 06 on the sides, were painted red and, of course, were also shown to the public at the military parade in Warsaw on July 22, 1974. The remaining aircraft were not delivered until 1976. In total, 25 Su-20 aircraft were purchased. Since Poland still uses the Su-7 U as a trainer-combat version, the version of the Su-7 U was not purchased.
Sukhoi Su-20 No. 7125, 2012, Krakow-Rakovice-Chizhny Airport
Unfortunately, on February 3, 1976, Poland lost its first Su-20 aircraft, numbered 01, before the basic delivery of aircraft. If the plane survives, it will be numbered 4241. The crash was sad because the pilot, Major Dezh Dolinets, lost his life. The accident occurred near the village of Kazmiir Biskupi. The cause of the accident was a technical malfunction of the equipment, the engine failed and stopped working, and there were problems with the entire power supply system. The responsibility for the accident rested with the manufacturer, who admitted their fault. So, the manufacturer offered a new aircraft (1977 year). Poland received the aircraft on February 12, 1977, with side number 7125.
The remaining 19 Su-20 aircraft were delivered in the summer of 1976. The side numbers of these aircraft are derived from the serial number and are painted red. At the same time, the side numbering of the first batch of 6 aircraft was changed.
Sukhoi Su-20 No. 6265, 2012, Krakow-Rakovice-Chizhny Airport
Su-20 in Poland.
In Poland, the Su-20 aircraft is a dual-purpose model. On the one hand, they are capable of effectively attacking targets on enemy territory, and on the other hand, they are also capable of carrying out active photographic and electronic intelligence identification tasks both during the day and at night. The second task was completed using the KKR-1 cabin. The cabins were later delivered to Poland. It should not be forgotten that the Su-20 aircraft used in Poland are also potential carriers of tactical nuclear weapons.
The Su-20 aircraft conducted the first joint exercises in Poland in 1976 under the code name "Shield-76". During their service in Poland, Su-20 aircraft also operated take-off and landing from the DOL (road airfield section).
Sukhoi Su-20 No. 6265, 2012, Krakow-Rakovice-Chizhny Airport
In the 1980s, three Polish pilots saved the Su-20 aircraft at the risk of their lives. On May 18, 1984, Captain André Paul collided with a stork in flight. The pilot suffered facial injuries and had shards of glass and limited vision. However, the pilot managed to land safely. On September 4, 1985, Captain Krzysztof Renetsky encountered an engine pump failure after firing a heavy S-24 missile, and the engine stalled. Despite the low flight altitude, the pilot managed to restart the engine and land safely at the airfield. In 1988, the Su-20 aircraft piloted by Major Krzysztovsky was struck by lightning and the engine stalled. The pilot successfully restarted the engine and landed safely at the airfield.
Sukhoi Su-20 No. 6131, 2012, Warsaw.
Information dated October 16, 1990 showed that information about the Su-20 and Su-22 aircraft was shown to Swedish officers. - The Su-20 in service with Poland has excellent landing parameters. Captain Bogdan Yuczyk is a master of short landings. Before approaching the ground, the pilot released the parabrake at a height of 2 meters. The measured glide distance is only 350 meters! At the same time, the American F-15 S / MTD aircraft turned out to be 450 meters without the use of a parachute, while the distance with the Polish method was 380 meters. The Su-20 aircraft has a landing weight of 11,000 kg, compared to 15 kg for the F-15 S / MTD aircraft.
Sukhoi Su-20 No. 6131, 2012, Warsaw.
The end of service of the Su-20 aircraft
By the mid-90s, the number of Su-20 aircraft began to rapidly decrease. Due to the end of the supply of fuselage structures, the aircraft began to age and gradually became scrapped. The end of its service took place in February 1997, when the last aircraft were sent to Bydgoszcz for several months of repairs before being dismantled and scrapped. The last aircraft were removed from the list in 1998.
Sukhoi Su-20 No. 6131, 2012, Warsaw.
The marking of the Su-20 in Poland is as follows:
The first digit indicates the year in which the aircraft arrived in Poland,
The second digit indicates the quarter in which the aircraft arrived in Poland,
The third digit indicates the month of arrival in Poland, but is sometimes rounded,
The fourth digit is the last digit of the fuselage serial number. ”
Sukhoi Su-20 nb 4242. Krakow-Rakovice-Chiřini Airport 2019.
Service number
1. Su-20 (S-32 MK) No. 01/4241, Serial No. 6601 - built in February 1974. Delivered on 26 April 1974. The aircraft number is 01. If the aircraft survives and the side number is changed, it will become 4241. On February 3, 1976, it crashed near the town of Kazimierz Biskoupi. The captain of the plane, Captain Gerzy Dolynets, was killed. The accident occurred due to equipment failure and engine stall. The manufacturer admitted the mistake and offered a new aircraft as compensation.
Sukhoi Su-20 nb 4242. Krakow-Rakovice-Chiřini Airport 2019.
2. Su-20 No. 02/4242, Serial No. 6602 - built in February 1974. Delivered on 26 April 1974. After being decommissioned, it was transferred to the museum in Kazini in 1997.
3. Su-20 No. 03/4243, Serial No. 6603 - built in February 1974. Delivered on 26 April 1974. On September 7, 1987, it crashed near Lake Powitz. Captain Andrei Pavorovsky (probably) successfully ejected.
4. Su-20 No. 04/4244, Serial No. 6604 - built in February 1974. Delivered on 26 April 1974. The front of the aircraft served as a teaching tool at the Oleshnitsa Technical School. Since 2010, it has been an exhibit at the Polish Aviation Museum in Katsini.
Sukhoi Su-20 nb 4242. Krakow-Rakovice-Chiřini Airport 2019.
5. Su-20 No. 05/4245, Serial No. 6605 - built in February 1974. Delivered on 26 April 1974. The aircraft remained in service with the 7th Bombing Reconnaissance Brigade in Powits until February 28, 1994 (like most Su-20 aircraft). Later, the unit evolved into the 7th Bombardment Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment (PLBR). In 1994, the aircraft was transferred to the airbase in Mierzhcheki, and then in 1995 to the Poznan Fortress Museum. Initially, it stood in front of the fort and later moved to the fort's outdoor exhibitions. Interestingly, from the very beginning the aircraft flew with the wing of another Su-20 (serial number 6604). In the troops, it received the mark in the form of a coat of arms on the fins and a coat of arms on the bow (the green color of seven indicates belonging to the 2nd squadron). The aircraft was restored in 2002. The aircraft was numbered 6605. The last number was 4245, which was painted with the school's mark for some time.
Sukhoi Su-20 nb 4242. Krakow-Rakovice-Chiřini Airport 2019.
6. Su-20 No. 6130, Serial No. 74930 - built in December 1975. Delivered in 1976. March 10, 1986 (?) Crashed at the Ustka training ground. Captain Czeslaw Gibashevsky successfully ejected.
7. Su-20 No. 6131, Serial No. 76301 - built in 1976. Delivered in 1976. The aircraft was retired relatively early because it was not restored or repainted in camouflage colors. After service, it was placed in the Polish Military-Technical Museum at Fort Cherniakov in Warsaw.
Su-20 model No. 4242. The nose landing gear of the aircraft. In 2007.
8. Su-20 No. 6134, serial No. 74724 - built in October 1975. Delivered on 13 April 1976. On May 31, 1995, it crashed in Mlinitska near Streelin. Captain Grzegorzh Farrant was killed.
9. Su-20 No. 6137, Serial No. 74727 - built in December 1975. Delivered on 13 April 1976. On March 13, 1978, it crashed during takeoff. Captain Stanisław Valczak.
Su-20 model No. 4242. The nose landing gear of the aircraft. In 2007.
10. Su-20 No. 6138, Serial No. 74728 - built in December 1975. Delivered on 18 March 1976. Used in the 7th Bombardment Reconnaissance Brigade in Powitz. He was discharged from service on 28 February 1997. In October 1999, it was donated to the museum.
11. Su-20 No. 6139, Serial No. 74729 - built in December 1975. Delivered on 18 March 1976. Crashed at the Soletsky training ground. Captain Rishva Pavorovsky successfully ejected.
12. Su-20 No. 6250, serial number 74210 - built in 1975. Delivered in 1976. After decommissioning, it has been dismantled and partially stored at Krakow-Rakovice-Chiřini Airport since 2009. It is planned to be exhibited as an exchange exhibit.
Su-22
13. Su-20 No. 6251, Serial No. 74311 - built in 1975. Delivered on 9 April 1976. On August 1, 1990, it crashed over the Nadalzce training ground. Captain Jerzy Grushchinsky successfully ejected. He is the author of numerous publications and aviation articles.
14. Su-20 No. 6252, serial number 74302 - built in 1975. Delivered in 1976. After service, it was placed in the Polish Military-Technical Museum at Fort Cherniakov in Warsaw. The aircraft was camouflaged in color.
15. Su-20 No. 6253, No. 74303 - Built in 1975. Issued in 1976.
16. Su-20 No. 6254, Serial No. 74304 - built in January 1976. Delivered in 1976. On July 14, 1993, it crashed near Września. Captain Robert Dudik (?) Successfully ejected.
17. Su-20 No. 6255, No. 74305 - Built in 1976. Issued in 1976.
18. Su-20 No. 6262, serial number 74312 - built in 1976. Delivered in 1976. The aircraft was in the air for 1,359 hours. After entering service, the aircraft was purchased by a Polish entrepreneur. It is placed on a pedestal that rises into the sky, near the national highway 4 and a gas station, in front of Tarnów. It becomes an advertisement for a company. In 2004, the aircraft was sold as part of the Big Christmas Band. The entrepreneur from Chestochowa became its new owner, spending about PLN 4500. But he did not take his possessions with him, because he was intimidated by the cost of dismantling and transport. The plane was too close to the road, which hampered its modernization. In 2007, the plane was dismantled and transported to Chestochowa in two trucks.
19. Su-20 No. 6263, Serial No. 74313 - built in December 1975. Delivered on 9 April 1976. On May 22, 1978, it crashed near the Bednary Alternate Airport. Captain Anthony Jayadowski was killed.
20. Su-20 No. 6264, Serial No. 74314 - built in December 1975. Delivered on 9 April 1976.
Su-22M4/UM3K
21. Su-20 No. 6265, Serial No. 74316 - built in December 1975. Delivered on 9 April 1976.
22. Su-20 No. 7125, serial No. 74105 - built in 1974. Delivered on 12 February 1977. Delivered by the manufacturer as a replacement for a lost aircraft. He was discharged from service on 19 August 1995. In 2012, the plane entered the museum in Deblin.
23. Su-20 No. 6256, Serial No. 74416 - delivered in 1976. After the service, it is displayed as a private exhibit at the gas station in Grouz-Bialobzh on the S7 highway.
24. Su-20 - issued in 1976.
25. Su-20 - issued in 1976.
26. Su-20 - issued in 1976.
27. Su-20 - issued in 1976.
In Poland, a total of 27 Su-20 aircraft were used, which were always stationed at the Powitz base. The last aircraft were removed from service in 1997. (The picture shows the Su-22, the Su-20 picture is not enough, use the Su-22 to make up the number.) ）
Author: Carol Praha Hetman