First work on a domestic fighter to replace ill-fated French SPAD 61s in the Polish Air Force was initiated by PWS in 1927.
The main designers were Aleksander Grzędzielski and Augustyn Zdaniewski.
In 1929 the prototype was built, and it first flew in March 1930.
At the same time, the more modern fighter PZL P.1 was developed by the PZL.
Despite the P.1 being a more capable fighter, the War Ministry decided that it needed further work, and a series of 80 PWS-10 was ordered as a temporary measure.
In comparison with the advanced P.1, the PWS-10 was a more classic design, a high-wing parasol monoplane of mixed construction.
The series was built from 1931 to 1932, numbered from 5-1 to 5-80.
A variant of PWS-10 was a biplane PWS-15, being PWS-10 with another pair of wings.
A single prototype was made to compare with a monoplane, on the factory’s initiative.
It first flew in the spring of 1931.
It offered better manoeuvrability and climb ratio with a slightly lower maximum speed.
PWS-15 was not produced and was soon broken up.
Variants
PWS-10
Single-seat fighter biplane.
PWS-10M
This was the original designation of the PWS-10.
PWS-15
PWS-10 with a new wing, one conversion only, not successful.
