Four new Bell 407 GXi for National Police

Four new Bell 407 GXi helicopters were registered in Poland during the summer of 2023 as SP-NYA ( s/n 56322 ), SP-NYB ( s/n 56341), SP-NYC ( s/n 56346 ) and SP-NYD ( s/n 56347 ).

Imported via local dealers JB Aviation at Obory Konstancin ( just south of Warsaw ) these four new build helicopters will be delivered to the Polish National Police, increasing their current fleet of three Bell 407 GXi to a total of seven. The current three examples operate with the Police as SN-80XP to SN-82XP ( side codes A-104 to A-106 ).

The four new helicopters will likely become SN-83XP to SN-86XP once delivered - to be confirmed.  

All four were delivered to the Police aviation unit at Warsaw Bemowo in mid December 2023 with side codes A-109, A-110, A-111 and A-112.

 

 

 SP-NYA and SP-NYB in flight - photo via JB Aviation

 

Link to more info and photos about the Polish Police helicopter fleet

 

 

New Bristell B23 - SP-ZBB

Skydream the Polish importers of BRM Aero aircraft released a photo showing a brand new BRM Aero Bristell B23 in final assembly at the BRM Aero factory in the Czech Republic registered as SP-ZBB. 

 

 

 Photo via Skydream

 

The Bristell B23 is the type certified version of the Bristell and has a MTOW of 750 kg. Other Bristell B23 aircraft already in Poland include SP-LLI(2), SP-PTZ and SP-WKY

Romania SMURD receives first PZL Mielec S-70M Black Hawks

On the 11th November 2023 PZL Mielec delivered the first example of a S-70M Black Hawk helicopter to SMURD in Romania. SMURD (Serviciul Mobil de Urgență, Reanimare și Descarcerare) provide an emergency medical service across the country and already operates a mixed fleet of air ambulance helicopters ( EC135 ) and aircraft ( eg Piper Pa-42 Cheyenne, Cessna 560 Citation, Learjet 75 ).

The first S-70 was delivered with its Polish test registration SP-YVW ( S/N 705344 registered on 1st September 2023 ) in an attractive red and yellow colour scheme and features a nose weather radar and a nose mounted searchlight. This S-70M was also wearing its new SMURD serial "276".

A second S-70M was delivered on 14.11.23 - this was SP-YVP ( S/N 705339 registered on 29th May 2023 ) with SMURD serial "271"

On the 19.11.23 S-70M SP-YVO was delivered to SMURD with local serial 270, see photo below.

Photo via PZL Mielec

Seven S-70M will be delivered by the end of 2023. 

A local news report with photos can be found on this link

 

  

SkyTaxi receive first 767-300 frieghter - SP-MRG

SkyTaxi a Polish cargo airline recently added a third 767 to their fleet SP-MRG - this is their first freighter version of the longer 767-300, joining two shorter 767-200 freighters SP-MRE and SP-MRF.

SP-MRG was registered in Poland on 27th September 2023 - the aircraft was built in 1992 with Boeing S/N 26388 and was originally delivered new to Air Europe Italy as S7-AAV. The new freighter wears a white and blue colour scheme with the SkyTaxi "Iguana" logo on the tail. The SkyTaxi fleet is home based at Ostrava airport in the Czech Republic. 

 

 Photo via SkyTaxi

More info about SkyTaxi on this weblink

Fusioncopter JK-3 Juan

The first flight of the new JK-3 Juan took place in late January 2023. This is an ultralight tractor style gyrocopter, in the Polish 115kg category. Tractor gyros ( ie with the engine at the front ) are rare beasts and this design and the name "Juan" is a tribute to the gyrocopter pioneer Juan de la Cierva and his tractor designs of the 1920's. The JK-3 Juan is powered by a Hirth F23 engine ( 50 HP ) and has a 7m rotorblade.

 

 

The JK-3 Juan was test flown with the Fusioncopter factory test registration SP-ZNAN - photo courtesy Fusioncopter  

Argon GTL

The Argon GTL is an enlongated development of the well known Xenon family of gyrocopters offering a lot of luggage space and an extended range for the pilot who wants to tour by gyrocopter. The Argon GTL is powered by a Rotax 915iS engine and is built by Manufaktura Lotnicza at Sobienie airfield ( EPSJ ) south east of Warsaw. 

 

 

 

The first GTL ( orange ) was registered as SP-XOZE in December 2021 with the second example ( dark green and gold ) becoming SP-XSON in April 2022. A blue and silver GTL was shipped to the USA in December 2022.     

Web Link for more information about the Argon GTL