Intended as a successor in Lotnictwo Wojskowe service to the P.11, the P.50 Jastrzab (Hawk) was designed under the leadership of Wsiewolod Jakimiuk. The first of two prototypes, the P.50/I, was flown in February 1939 with an 840hp Bristol Mercury VIII nine-cylinder radial. Of all-metal stressed-skin monocoque construction, the P.50 was armed with four wing-mounted 7.92mm Wz 36 machine guns. The Mercury-engined model was referred to as the Jastrzab A, an initial batch of 30 of this version being under construction at the time of the German invasion. The second prototype, the P. 50/II, was intended to serve as a development aircraft for the more advanced Jastrzab II. This featured a revised rear fuselage, armament augmented by two 20mm cannon and pilot armour, the engine being a 1375hp Bristol Hercules to be replaced in the series model by the 1200hp P.Z.L. Waran radial. The P.50/II was still awaiting its power plant at the time of the German assault. The first pre-series Jastrzab A was to be fitted with an 870hp Gnome-Rhone 14Kirs as a development aircraft for the Jastrzab B, and this was almost ready for flight test in September 1939.

3-View

A three-view drawing (1278 x 950)