The MD-12 is a Polish four-engined short-range passenger and civil utility aircraft of the 1960s intended for LOT's domestic routes. The plane evaluated well but did not enter production as the small number of planes required resulted in vastly increased costs. Instead this aerial photography version with a glazed nose and increased wing span was built and is now on display at this super museum having been recently repainted.

Having been splendidly restored and in full colours again, this was the most precious gem for me in this impressive museum. The sole surviving MD-12 of three built is the F version, the samolot Fotogrametryczny for photo surveillance. It was modified in many ways from the previous versions and had an endurance of 10 hours, despite some technical shortcomings that remained.

The MD-12 is a Polish four-engined short-range passenger and civil utility aircraft of the 1960s intended for LOT's domestic routes. The pane evaluated well but did not enter production as the small number of planes required resulted in vastly increased costs. Instead this aerial photography version with a glazed nose and increased wing span was built and is now on display at this super museum. This is the third aircraft built. The first prototype, SP-PAL, crashed in 1963 and the second, SP-PBD, was scrapped in 1967.

Another visitor to the marvellous Polish Aviation Museum takes advantage of the shade offered by this aircraft on a blisteringly hot day. This aircraft type was designed as a 20 seat passenger aircraft. It first flew in 1959 but never went into service and this example was used for survey work.

[Nikon D300s + Nikkor AF-S 35mm/1,8]

Yes, the MD-12 was built! MD stands for Misztal and Dulęba, the designers of this 20-seat airliner which first flew in July 1959. It did not enter airline service, this being a survey version.

The MD-11 may be well known, the MD-12 rather less so. This Polish design first flying in 1959 was intended as an Li-2 replacement, the second of two prototypes being evaluated by LOT. Although quite promising no further progress was made. A third example, seen in this photo before the paint weathered away, was built as a photo-surveyor. Again there was considerable interest but the programme was halted by the crash of the first prototype in 9.63

Looking surreal in the freezing cold, long since having lost most vestiges of paintwork - compare with my 1990 photo