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

 

 

LOT Antonov An-24 SP-LTU history

The Polish National Digital Archive has a vast library of historic items covering a wide range of subject matter and among them are some photos of Polish aircraft.

 

This photo shows LOT Antonov An-24 SP-LTU, the photo is dated 1975-1980 and taken at Warsaw Okecie airport. This An-24 was registered on 1st October 1974 by the GILC as aircraft #1914. It was built in 1970 and initially delivered to the Polish Air Force with serial 015 prior to becoming SP-LTU with LOT. It was named "Drawa" ( a Polish river ).  LOT received their first An-24 ( SP-LTA ) in 1966.

SP-LTU was destroyed in an accident on 26th March 1981 at Redzikowo near Slupsk.  

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

Allstar SZD 55-2 Nexus with FES first flight

Glider manufacturer Allstar of Bielsko-Biała, Poland have flown the first example of their SZD 55 Nexus glider with a nose mounted FES sustainer motor. Designed in conjunction with Breunig Aerospace  ( Germany ) the modified Allstar SZD 55-2 Nexus e-motion glider is being tested at Giebelstadt airfield ( EDQG ) in Germany with the registration D-KSZD. The first flight took place on September 27th 2023.

 

The glider was initially aero-towed up to 1,000m before switching on the front electric sustainer ( FES ) engine. 

 

More details on the Allstar SZD website

 

 

First JK-2 Nanocopter in Australia

Summer 2023 - Fusioncopter have delivered the first examples of the ultralight JK-2 Nano gyrocopter to Australia. The first example is now registered locally as G-2023 and operates with Gyrocopter Flights Australia at York in Western Australia. 

Five examples of the JK-2 Nano were shipped to Australia in early 2023.

By August 2023 Fusioncopter had produced over thirty five Nano gyrocopters with many of these being exported to pilots in the USA.

More information via the Fusioncopter website below,

 

https://fusioncopter.eu/

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

New LPR Learjet 75 SP-MXR delivered

Brand new Learjet 75 Liberty SP-MXR arrived in Warsaw on 16th December 2021 for the "LPR" state medical air ambulance service. The aircraft routed in via Wick, Scotland.

photo via LPR

This aircraft has been fitted with seven medical systems and can carry two patients at high speed across Poland - the LPR have two examples on order. The LPR operates a large fleet of EC135 helicopters and two Avanti fixed wing aircraft.

New Dynali H3 ultralight helicopter - SP-HART

Hi-Tech Aviation of Poland shared a photo of another brand new Dynali H3 Sport ultralight helicopter heading to Poland as SP-HART from the Dynali factory at Thines (30km south of Brussels) in Belgium.

This will be the fourth Dynali H3 to be registered in Poland after SP-HELI, SP-HELO and SP-HITH. The D3 Sport is powered by a 135 HP engine based on a Rotax 912 ULS block and certified with a MTOW of 530 kg.

 

 

 

 

New McDonalds balloon - SP-BGR Cameron N-90

 

A new balloon to be seen over the skies of Poland is SP-BGR - this yellow Cameron N-90 c/n 10239 with McDonalds titles was recently added to the Polish balloon register in April 2021. 

 

This balloon was previously operated in Germany as D-OMAC(2) - it now flies with the Grudziadz balloon club.

 

New PC-12 NGX delivered to Poland

On 25th May 2021 brand new Pilatus PC-12 NGX HB-FSG c/n 2084 was delivered from the Pilatus factory at Stans, Switzerland to Wroclaw, Poland. 

 

 
The aircraft is painted in an attractive blue and silver colour scheme and will soon be registered as SP-NCC(2) - photo with thanks to JB Aviation. 

The following PC-12 aircraft have been registered in Poland over the years - SP-ARC, SP-CIZ, SP-CMR, SP-EMA, SP-KKB, SP-KKW, SP-MBW, SP-MIX, SP-MIY, SP-MKM, SP-NAP, SP-NCL twice, SP-NPC, SP-NUT, SP-NWM, SP-ORT, SP-PPP, SP-SAB, SP-THC, SP-WBW and SP-ZIW

Bocian G-DFLL - the last from Krosno

Browsing through my old photos I came across this lovely red Bocian G-DFLL I took in December 2009. I had seen this Bocian many times over the years at both Keevil and also as shown here at The Park - Kingston Deverill. 

 

 

This glider was built at the SZD factory at Krosno in 1965 with c/n 877 ( F-877 ) as a SZD 9 Bis Bocian 1D - in fact it was the last SZD glider to be built at their Krosno factory ( note that  Bocian production continued at SZD Jezow ). 

It was delivered new to Finland as OH-336, later becoming OH-KBP. It came to the UK in 1988 taking up the BGA registration BGA 3345 with trigraph "FLL". In September 2009 it moved onto the UK "G" register as G-DFLL with the Bath, Wiltshire and North Dorset Gliding Club at The Park. The registration was cancelled in 2012 with the glider listed as permanently withdrawn from use after 47 years of flying.   

 

Opegieka - Survey P68 SP-GEO visits Britain

In early April 2021 the Polish registered P68 TC Observer SP-GEO arrived in the UK. This aircraft is one of three survey aircraft operated by Opegieka. The company is based at Elbląg but often have an aircraft detached at Warsaw-Bemowo airfield.

SP-GEO was built new in 2011 by Vulcanair in Italy ( the P68 design was originally built by Partenavia ) with serial number 461-13-OTC and was registered in Poland in June 2011. This P68 has a transparent acrylic nose to help the crew see directly ahead during survey flights. 

On Sunday 4th April 2021 SP-GEO flew from Gloucester airport up to Leeds-East ( formerly RAF Church Fenton ) from where it has operated a number of survey flights over northern England. On Tuesday 13th April SP-GEO flew on to Hawarden airfield near Chester. The aircraft has used its registration as its radio callsign. 

Opegieka also operate two other survey aircraft - SP-OPG P68C ( solid nose ) and Beech C90A King Air  SP-ISS.

 

More info on this web link to the Opegieka website

 

 

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 

 

 

New Pipistrel Virus for Poland

Skydream of Bielsko-Biala have announced the imminent delivery of another brand new Pipistrel Virus SW from the factory in Slovenia - this aircraft will be registered as SP-SAMG - over 40 examples of the Pipistrel Virus ultralight aircraft have been registered in Poland. 

 

Virus SP-SAMG at the factory pre-delivery  - S/N 1045

Update - March 2021 - Another new Pipistrel Virus SW in Poland is SP-SRMC imported via agents Skydream, photo below

Two new Diamond DA-20 aircraft delivered to Deblin

The Lotnicza Akademia Wojskowa ( LAW - military flight academy ) at Deblin airbase took delivery of two further examples of the Diamond DA-20 C1 Eclipse on 27th November 2020 registered as SP-NTB and SP-NTC. The aircraft are fitted with glass cockpits and are used for basic flight training.  The LAW fleet now has ten examples of the Eclipse and also operate other types including the DA-40, the twin engine DA-42 plus Robinson R44 and Guimbal Cabri helicopters.

DA-20 C1 Eclipse SP-NTC on delivery to the Lotnicza Akademia Wojskowa at Deblin 

 

Other examples of the DA-20 C1 Eclipse operated by the Lotnicza Akademia Wojskowa include,

SP-NDA, NDI, NKN, NKT, NLN, NPT, NTA, TEC,  

Photo courtesy Lotnicza Akademia Wojskowa

 

 

 

JK-2 Nano - Ultralight gyrocopter

Manufactured by Fusioncopter the JK-2 Nano is a very light weight gyrocopter, designed for the UL 115 Kg class ( MTOW 200 kg ). Aircraft in this category can be flown without a pilots licence. The Nano is powered by a Polini Thor 250DS engine producing 36 HP ( Polini engines are often used on powered paragliders PPG )

The prototype Nano ( SP-NANO ) first flew in September 2019 with early production examples ( SP-ZNAN and SP-ZNAX ) flying by Spring 2020 - the first customer delivery is said to be imminent.

New Aero AT-3 R100 - SP-AVA

June 2020 - The latest AT-3 to be completed at the Aero AT facility at Mielec, Poland is aircraft number 110, now registered as SP-AVA.

This AT-3 R100 has a MTOW of 630kg and is fitted with a Garmin glass cockpit - the aircraft also has additional wing fuel tanks each holding a further 50 litres.

The registration SP-AVA was previously used on a Cirrus SR22 from 2008-2012.   

Air-Res - Jungmann

Air-Res accquired the rights to produce the T-131 Jungmann ( Czech plans for the Bucker Bu-131 Jungmann ) in 2011 from Serwis Samolotow Historycznych ( SSH ). SSH themselves had built approx 30 examples between 1994-2011.

The first Air-Res built example flew in January 2013 with serial number 200. This was exhibited at Aero 2013 and went on to be registered as SP-YFB.  The aircraft features Olympic rings on the engine cowling and was delivered to a customer in Germany during 2015 marked to represent the 1936 era "D-EGSY".

SP-YFB departs to Germany as D-EGSY - photo courtesy Air-Res

A second Jungmann serial number 201 was registered as SP-YPS in 2014, this is also belivered to have been delivered to a German customer.

The third example to be built by Air-Res (serial number 202 ) was exhibited at Aero 2015 in April 2015. This machine first flew in October 2015 registered as SP-YIN.


Steve

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