PW-5 Smyks in Argentina

The PW-5 Smyk world class glider is very popular in Argentina - in fact there are more Smyks registered in Argentina than any other country - If you include the two recent examples exported from New Zealand to Argentina a total of 38 Smyks have been registered since 1997.

I'd like to thank Raul Macchi of Argentina for supplying the following two photos of the PW-5 Smyk in Argentina.

LV-EOZ c/n 17.08.002 - this Smyk was built in 1997 and originally exported by PZL Swidnik to New Zealand where it became ZK-GSJ in November 1997 registered to an owner in Queenstwon. In 1999 this Smyk was sold to Argentina with just 30 flight hours where it was registered as LV-EOZ, operating with the Gliding Club Rosario - it is interesting to note that this Smyk still wears the tail code "SJ" from its previous New Zealand registration and appears to lack LV-EOZ.

LV-EOV PW-5 Smyk c/n 17.12.022 - this Smyk was built by PZL Swidnik in 2001although it wasn't registered until August 2003 as ZK-GHK in New Zealand ( hence HK tail code in this photo ). In May 2009 it was cancelled from the aircraft register in New Zealand and sold on to Argentina where it became LV-EOV. This Smyk is flown by Raul Macchi and operates from Gliding Club Bolivar.

If anyone can give me an update on the two most recent Smyks to be imported into Argentina ( during 2010 ) please let me know - these are

Smyk c/n 17.03.004 ex ZK-GWN

Smyk c/n 17.08.016 ex ZK-GES


Steve in UK

PW-5 Smyk - c/n 17.08.016 ZK-GES leaves New Zealand

The PW-5 Smyk single seat glider has always been very popular in New Zealand - in fact since 1995 twenty five different examples have been registered on the ZK New ZEalnd aircraft register - second only to Argentina with approx 36 examples.

Smyk ZK-GES c/n 17.08.206 was built at the PZL Swidnik factory in eastern Poland in 1997 and was exported brand new to New Zealand where it became ZK-GES on 4th November 1997. The glider was cancelled from the New Zealand aircraft register on 10th September 2010, cancelled as "exported" - can anyone tell me where this glider has gone please ?

Earlier in 2010 another Smyk was exported from New Zealand - this was ZK-GWN c/n 17.03.004 a 1994 vintage example.

If you can tell where these two PW-5 Smyks have gone then please do get in touch - thanks

UPDATE 1.10.10 - Both these PW-5 Smyks have been exported from New Zealand to Argentina

Steve