The SZD-16 Gil (Bullfinch) was a glider designed in Poland in the 1950s. It was planned that this glider would replace earlier intermediate training gliders but its performance did not meet expectations so it was not put into production.

The Szybowcowy Zaklad Doswiadczalny (Glider Experimental Works) as it was renamed in 1948, was established after World War 2 to rebuild gliding in Poland.

It became the main Polish centre of designing gliders, which were next produced by the SZD workshop or, in conditions of a centrally planned state economy, by other state-owned workshops and factories.

Work on the SZD-16 began in 1955 to create a new intermediate training glider to replace earlier gliders.

It was designed for simplicity of operation, good piloting properties and low production costs but it’s gliding performance was not as expected of it did not enter production. Instead, SZD focussed on design and production of its SZD-15 glider.

This model represents the sole SZD-16 glider in about 1958.

PZW 1:72 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in April 2024.