Gabriel Śląsk
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| Śląsk | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Cabin single-seat light aircraft |
| National origin | Poland |
| Designer | Antoni Gabriel |
| Status | officially grounded after two flights |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| First flight | 11 October 1936 |
The Gabriel Śląsk (Silesia) was a Polish light aircraft designed and built by an amateur in the mid-1930s. After two flights the Polish authorities banned further development.
Antoni Gabriel, a long-time aircraft enthusiast, took an aircraft mechanic's course during military service and on return home designed a single-seat, high-wing, light, cabin monoplane. It was entirely self-funded and was constructed by Gabriel and a carpenter friend, Jan Mencel. Even the propeller and tyres were built on Gabriel's farm. He began tests with a car engine but this was not powerful enough even to taxi the machine, though he did get some press coverage which led to the offer of an old, 34 kW (45 hp) Anzani 6 radial engine. This powered the first flight on 11 October 1936; it was the first time Gabriel had flown any aircraft but the flight lasted 45 minutes and ended, as night fell, by bonfire-light. After repairing some undercarriage damage and installing another home-made propeller, the Śląsk made its second flight in December 1936. This proved to be its last, as the resulting publicity attracted official attention. Concerns about structural strength and lack of design documentation led to a ban on further flights.[1]
Stored in a farm building, the Śląsk survived the war and parts survived until 1963.[2]