The story
Iskra means spark in Polish, and the TS-11 was Poland's own jet trainer: a straight wing, a pod-and-boom fuselage and the engine exhausting under the tail. It lost the Warsaw Pact trainer competition to the Czech L-29, but Poland adopted it anyway, and India bought it too. The Polish Air Force flew it until 2021, and several have since gone to private owners.
The Iskra served the Polish Air Force for 57 years, from 1964 to 2021, and its display team Biało-Czerwone Iskry flew it from 1969 to 2021.
Quick answers
How do you identify a TS-11 Iskra?
Straight wing, a high T-tail on a slim boom, and the jet exhaust underneath the boom rather than at the back. The intakes are at the wing roots.
What does a TS-11 Iskra sound like?
A modest turbojet whistle with the exhaust aimed under the tail boom.
How fast is the TS-11 Iskra?
Top speed is 389 kts.
How many people does the TS-11 Iskra carry?
Typical configuration: Tandem two-seat trainer.
How far can the TS-11 Iskra fly?
Range is about 680 nmi.
How big is the TS-11 Iskra?
It is 36 ft 7 in long and 33 ft 0 in across the wings.
When did the TS-11 Iskra first fly?
Its first flight was in 1960.
How many TS-11 Iskras have been built?
424 built.
How rare is a TS-11 Iskra in Bogey?
RARE. A good day. Most spotters go weeks between sightings of something this rare. Your first TS-11 Iskra catch is worth 250 points.
