30 Years ago - PZL Swidnik at Paris Air Show 1991

Thirty years ago back in summer 1991 PZL Swidnik exhibited W-3 Sokol SP-SUD at the Paris Air Show. The helicopter was painted white and red and carried the Show Code H340. This Sokol was registered with the GILC ( ULC ) on 29th May 1991 with c/n 310413. 

The photo below is sourced from the Polish National Photo Archive ( NAC ) and shows SP-SUD at Le Bourget airport in June 1991 during the Paris Air Show.

 

After the show SP-SUD returned to PZL Swidnik in Poland and was re-painted in a white and blue colour scheme ( same pattern as above ) with Okada titles. It passed through Stuttgart, Germany on delivery in October 1991.

This Sokol was delivered to Nigeria in late 1991 and was registered on 3rd December 1991 as 5N-UYI with local operator Okada. Okada Air ceased operations in 1997. By 2008 Sokol 5N-UYI was parked withdrawn from use in the long grass at Benin City airport, Nigeria. 

Link to photo of W-3 Sokol 5N-UYI at Benin City, Nigeria 

 

 

W-3A Sokol helicopter for Algerian Air Force

PZL Swidnik continues to build and test flying W-3A Sokol helicopters for the Algerian AF. The most recent example noted in April 2014 wears the Polish registration SP-SIN as well as the Algerian AF serial AT-36. Algeria are thought to have ordered 8 Sokol helicopters.

These helicopters wear a sand and brown camouflage colour scheme which also features several dayglo orange parts. The first example was test flying in early 2013.

The following table shows details of the first seven examples known to date - updates welcomed

AT-12 c/n 371001 - test flown as SP-SWL - delivered 31.4 via Karlsruhe, Germany
AT-14 c/n 371002 - test flown as SP-SIC
AT-18 c/n 371003 - test flown as SP-SIE
AT-22 c/n 371004 - test flown as SP-SIF
AT-28 c/n 371005 - test flown as SP-SII - delivered 3.14 via Lyon, France
AT-32 c/n 371006 - test flown as SP-SIL - delivered 31.4 via Karlsruhe, Germany
AT-36 c/n 371007 - test flown as SP-SIN

Note the non sequential Algerian AF serial numbers.

photo copyright Jacques Lienard - click here to see original

more photos of Algerian AF W-3A Sokols here

Steve

Philippine Air Force - W-3 Sokol test flying

PZL Swidnik are currently test flying W-3 Sokol helicopters getting ready for delivery to the Philippine Air Force.

At least four examples are currently at Rzeszow airport in the south of Poland - they are painted overall olive drab with full Philippine Air Force titles and markings.

Seen flying this week at Rzeszow was W-3 Sokol serial 310921 also wearing the Polish test registration SP-SWP.

Three more examples are hangared and appear ready to delivery, serials 310919, 310920 and 310922.

The Philippine Air Force ordered eight examples of the W-3 Sokol for a utility helicopter role. The remaining four Sokols will be delivered in late 2012 ( maybe November ).


LINK to  more great photos by Maciej Goclon of Philippine AF W-3 Sokol helicopters


UPDATE 14.2.12 - These four Philippine Air Force W-3 Sokol helicopters were airfreighted out of Rzeszow inside Volga Dnepr An-124-100 RA-82044 on 13.2.12 - it is believed that they will be based at Clark Air Force Base. 



Steve

PZL Swidnik announces new W-3A Sokol order

January 2012 - PZL Swidnik ( part of the AgustaWestland group ) have announced that five new build W-3A Sokol helicopters have been ordered by the Polish Air Force for VIP use. The new helicopters will be delivered by the end of 2013 and will replace the remaining Mil Mi-8 currently used in the VIP role.

The Polish Air Force already operate two W-3A Sokols in the VIP role, serials 0915 and 0916 - these two are painted in a VIP white/red colour scheme and were delivered in 2008/2009.

More details on the PZL Swidnik press release on the link below,

PZL Swidnik Press Release January 2012


Steve

New W-3A Sokol delivered to Chile

PZL Swidnik have recently delivered a new build W-3A Sokol helicopter to Chile. The helicopter is c/n 37 09 17 and was registered in Chile as CC-ACJ on 28th September 2010.

The helicopter is operated by CONAF the national forestry organisation  and is the first W-3 Sokol to be sold to South America.

This Sokol was initially test flown at Swidnik as SP-SWV before training as SP-SYS.

Photo Link to CONAF W-3A Sokol as SP-SWV

For photos and video of this new W-3A Sokol in Chile please follow the links below


http://www.modocharlie.com/2010/09/y-llego-el-sokol/


http://www.aviaciontotal.cl/2010/10/video-vuelo-de-certificacion-del-sw-3a-sokol-de-conaf/




Steve in UK

SW-4 on display at Farnborough 2010

PZL Swidnik part of the AgustaWestland group are exhibiting a newly built SW-4 light helicopter at Farnborough 2010. The helicopter SP-SST arrived at Farnborough on 16.7.10 - the trade show startsed on Monday 19th July 2010.

The c/n of this helicopter is confirmed as 600402 ( ie Batch 04 aircraft 02 ).

This SW-4 will operate as a demonstrator. 

Another new SW-4 is SP-SSW c/n 600401 - this is currently operating in Arizona, USA for hot and high test trials.


Steve

PZL Swidnik announces deal to build Pilatus PC-12 fusealges

PZL Swidnik have confirmed that they will start production for Pilatus of fusealges for the PC-12 single engined turboprop aircraft.

Their April 2010 press release states..................

The contract provides for a 10 years production co-operation, with the potential for further extension and development. The first fuselage is scheduled to be delivered to the recipient in September 2011.

More details on this LINK to PZL Swidnik statement




Steve

Success for PZL Swidnik - Phillippines to buy W-3 helicopter

Success for PZL Swidnik - Philippines to buy W-3 helicopter


The Philippine Air Force has placed an order for 8 new W-3 Sokol helicopters to be built at the PZL Swidnik factory in Poland.


More details via the link below


http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNews.htm?f=2010/february/13/news2.isx&d=2010/february/13

PW-6U LN-GCV - cancelled from "LN" register

Norwegian PW-6U LN-GCV was cancelled from the "LN-" register on 6th January 2010 ( 6.1.10 )

This two seat glider was built at PZL Swidnik with c/n 78.03.09 - it was delivered new to Norway in August 2003 and was operated by the Oslo Seilflyklubb ( Oslo Gliding Club ).

This glider has been exported to a gliding club in Sweden.

The photo of LN-GCV below is courtesy of the Oslo Seilflyklubb


The Oslo Seilflyklubb also operate another PW-6U - LN-GZZ c/n 78.03.06 which has tail code "L6".


UPDATE - this PW-6 was registered in Sweden as SE-UUJ on 18th Feb 2010.


Steve

PW-5 Smyk - c/n 17.03.004 leaves New Zealand

The PW-5 Smyk single seat glider has been very popular in New Zealand over the past 15 years with over 20 different airframes delivered.

The PW-5 Smyk was originally designed by the Politechnic Warszawa in Warsaw, Poland as a design entry for the FAI World Class glider competition - the Smyk was the winning design and serial production was undertaken by the PZL Swidnik factory from 1993 to 2003.

Smyk c/n 17.03.004 was built in late 1994 and arrived in New Zealand in March 1995 becoming ZK-GWN flying with the Wellington Glider Club at Paraparaumu.




This Smyk was cancelled from the New Zealand aircraft register on 6th January 2010 as "exported"

If you know where is has been sold to then please do let me know - my guess would be Argentina or Australia but I'd like confirmation please.




Steve