PZL-130 Orlik
| PZL-130 Orlik | |
|---|---|
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| Role | trainer |
| National origin | Poland |
| Manufacturer | PZL Warszawa-Okecie |
| First flight | 24 October 1984 |
| Introduction | 1994 |
| Primary user | Polish Air Force |
| Number built | 50 + 9 prototypes |
The PZL 130 Orlik (English: Eaglet) is a Polish turboprop, single engine, two seat trainer.
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[edit] Development and design
The Orlik was designed by PZL Warszawa-Okecie as a trainer for the Polish Air Force, intended as a replacement for its PZL-110 Kolibers. It was also designed to meet the American FAR 23 standard. The project was under the supervision of Andrzej Frydrychewicz, head engineer of PZL Warszawa-Okecie. It was fitted with a low-aspect ratio wing to better simulate the handling characteristics of jet fighters.[1] The aircraft was designed to be powered by a Soviet-designed and built Vedeneyev M14Pm radial engine with the intention of replacing it by a modified Polish built Ivchenko AI-14 engine in production aircraft.[2] The first prototype Orlik flew on 12 October 1984, with a second prototype following in December and a third in January 1985.[2]
While the Polish Air Force planned to power its Orliks with locally produced radial engines, PZL planned a turboprop powered version, the PZL-130T Turbo Orlik for export purposes.[3] The third prototype was therefore re-fitted with a 410 kW (550 shp) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-25P turboprop, flying in this form on 13 July 1986, but was destroyed in a crash in January 1987 while being demonstrated to a representative of the Colombian Air Force.[4] Two further turboprop prototypes followed in 1989 and 1990, powered by a Czech-built 560 kW (750 shp) Walter M-601E and a PT6A-25 as the PZL-130TB and PZL-130TP respectively.[5]
In 1990, development of the piston-engined Orlik was abandoned, as the Polish built radial engines gave insufficient power, with Polish interest switching to the M-601 powered PZL-130TB.[5]
[edit] Operational history
Deliveries of PZL-130TBs to the Polish started in 1994, with the aircraft equipping the Military Pilot Academy at Dęblin and the 60th Training Air Regiment at Radom. All of Poland's PZL-130TBs were upgraded to TC-1 standard, with better ejection seats and avionics.[6]
[edit] Variants
- PZL-130 Orlik
- The original aircraft with one Vedeneyev M14Pm piston engine
- PZL-130T Turbo Orlik
- Variant with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25P turboprop engine
- PZL-130TM Orlik
- Variant with a Walter M601E turboprop engine
- PZL-130TB Orlik
- Variant with a Walter M601T turboprop engine
- PZL-130TC I Orlik
- Variant with added Martin-Baker Mk.11, zero-zero class ejection seats and modernized avionics
- PZL-130TC II Orlik
- Variant with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25C turboprop, added winglets, modernized avionics and changed tutor's seat position
- PZL-130TC III Orlik
- Variant with modernized avionics (for example: added Head-Up Display)
[edit] Operators
- Polish Air Force
- Polish Navy - Former operator.
[edit] Specifications (PZL-130TC II Orlik)
General characteristics
- Crew: 2: student, instructor
- Length: 9.30 m ()
- Wingspan: 10.00 m ()
- Height: 3.53 m ()
- Wing area: 14.56 m² ()
- Empty weight: 1,825 kg ()
- Loaded weight: 2,400 kg ()
- Max. takeoff weight: 2,950 kg ()
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25C turboprop, 750 hp ()
Performance
- Maximum speed: 480 km/h
- Range: 2,200 km ()
[edit] See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Atlas ACE
- Aérospatiale/Socata TB-30 Epsilon
- Beechcraft T-6 Texan II
- Beechcraft T-34 Mentor
- Embraer EMB 312 Tucano
- ENAER T-35 Pillán
- Fuji T-3
- Fuji T-7
- KAI KT-1
- Pilatus PC-7
- Pilatus PC-9
- Short Tucano
- Socata TB-31 Omega
- TAI Hürkuş
- Utva Lasta
[edit] References
- Lambert, Mark. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993-94. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Data Division, 1993. ISBN 0 7106 1066 1.
- "Orlik…A Polish Fledgeling". Air International, October 1985, Vol 29 No 4. pp. 167–172. ISSN 0306-5634.
- Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Defence Data, 1988. ISBN 0 7106-0867-5.
- Taylor, Michael J.H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999. ISBN 1 85753 245 7.
[edit] External links
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