Cessna 175C Skylark - a rare machine

 A recent visit to Warsaw-Bemowo airfield found Cessna 175C Skylark SP-FYZ - the aircraft looks in excellent condition. This example was built in 1962,  the 175 Skylark was only in production between 1958-1962. 

 

 

SP-FYZ was registered in Poland in July 2001 having been imported from Sweden as SE-CXO. It was initially based at Suwalki. I saw FYZ at Lisie Katy in 2008 and at Bemowo in 2019 and 2020. The Skylark features a geared Continental GO-300C engine. Approx 2,100 Skylarks were built before Cessna ceased production. 

One other Skylark in Poland is SP-KYM a Cessna 175B variant built in 1961. 

 

LINK - More info about the Cessna 175 Skylark here

 

Warsaw - Bemowo - 7th April 2013

The airfield was still covered in snow despite being early April and closed for flying. All the hangers were shut up with the exception of a small new hanger near the YALO facility.

Parked out in the snow was SP-MAH Cessna 150J c/n 15069481 - this aircraft was built back in 1968 and flew as N50680 before being imported and lregistered in Poland in 2009.

Also outside was SP-MAN Reims Cessna 152 c/n 01677 - this was built by Reims Aviation in France in 1979 and originally imported new into the UK as G-BHEA before taking up the out of sequence marks G-OWAK in 1980

The aircraft spent most of its life operating out of Biggin Hill airfield in Kent. It was cancelled from the UK CAA register in December 2009 as exported to Poland and became SP-MAN in April 2010.

At the back of the Aeroklub hanger was this GM-01 Gniady - I think this is the unfinished second example ( the first being SP-YBN ) - designed as a glider tug the design made use of existing many Koliber and Wilga components.

Parked outside the YALO facility was YALO Ultra Pup Bravo SP-SAMB  - ( "SAMB" probably refers to "Samoloty B", ie "Airplane Bravo" ). This is the third example assembled by YALO and was actually exhibited at the Aero 2010 trade fair at Friedrichshafen in April 2010.

Parked right outside the YALO facilty was this CH 601 Zodiac fuselage. There are approx a dozen Zodiac aircraft registered in Poland and at least two companies building them too. I do not know the identity of this particular aircraft or the subtype ( HD, HDS, UL, XL etc )  - it appears to have a little damage around the cowling so may be here for repairs - if you know more then please do send me an email - thanks.



Just beside the Pup Bravo was a small new hanger which was open - inside was the excellent looking SP-SORO a sleek Tecnam P2008 - this was delivered new in 2012.

The P2008 is a new two seat aircraft and has a carbon fibre fuselage with metal wings and rudder - at the time of writing no examples were registered in the UK so this was a new type for me, more info on the Tecnam website below

External Link to the Tecnam website


Also resident in the new hanger was Swedish registered SOCATA MS 894A Minerva 220 SE-FSU c/n 12076, the owner was doing a little work on the propeller hub.

Regards



Steve

Warsaw - Polish Army Museum

The Polish Army Museum is located right in the centre of Warsaw city, on the Al Jerozolimskie just before the bridge crossing the River Vistula.

Outside the museum is a good collection of aircraft and fighting vehicles - you can access these free of charge. I've been here many times since 1994 and the collection has expanded over the years. Don't let the snow trick you into thinking I visited mid winter - these images were taken on 5th April 2013.  

Yak 40 044 c/n 9840659 was built in 1979 and served with 36 SPLT in the VIP transport for 30 years being based at Warsaw Okecie international airport. This aircraft is the latest addition to the museums collection.

Mig 21PF 0615 was delivered circa 1965 - this aircraft wears the Syrena emblem of 1 PLM based at Minsk airbase ( approx 30 miles East of Warsaw ) .

Mi-2 1449 c/n 531449040 was built at the PZL Swidnik factory in 1970 - it arrived at the Museum in 1996 and wears the red/white tail band of 42 ELT the last unit it served with, based at that time at Warsaw - Bemowo airfield. This Mi-2 is currently "under renovation".

An-26 1602 c/n 1602 served with 13 PLT based at Krakow - Balice - delivered new in 1973 this An-26 took on the identity SP-LWC in 1991 ( and latter SP-KWC ) for flights into Western Europe painted in an overall grey colour scheme with "Cargo" titles. The aircraft is fitted with additional navigational kit. It reverted to serial 1602 in 1996 and took on this camouflage colour scheme circa 1999 - it was retired from use in 2008 ( replaced by the new Casa 295M ) and arrived at the museum in 2010.   

Web link for Polish Army Museum


Steve

I-28 Tractor Gyroplane

Poland has a long history of designing new and innovative aircraft  / helicopters / gliders - the Instytutu Lotnictwa ( IL ) aviation academy in Warsaw is currently working on a new gyrocopter, the I-28.

The I-28 is a two seat tractor gyrocopter, ie the powered propeller is at the very front of the aircraft rather than the more conventional ( in modern terms ) pusher type gyro where the powered propeller is behind the cockpit cabin.

The concept of tractor gyrocopters is not new with several designs flying in the 1930s ( Cierva designs )  - the  Instytutu Lotnictwa project brings this concept into the 21st century using the latest design techniques and materials. The design features a very sleek carbon epoxy aerodynamic fuselage with a two wheel undercarriage and a novel tail down design. At the moment the only tractor gyros being built are made in the USA by Little Wing Autogyros.

The first prototype is now nearing completion and the first test flight is due in late 2012.


More information on the link below

I-28 Gyrocopter



Steve

New airline - Bingo Airways

Bingo Airways is the latest new airline to start up in Poland. Bingo will operate holiday charter flights from Warsaw, Katowice and Poznan to holiday destinations in and around the Mediterranean.

 
The airline has chosen a simple white and red colour scheme with a "smile" under the nose too. The first aircraft for Bingo Airways an Airbus A320 ( c/n 2118 ) was re-painted into the new colour scheme at Bournemouth-Hurn airport in England in April 2012.

This aircraft was built in 2003 and previously operated by Turkish airline Izair as TC-IZA- it will become SP-ABK shortly.


More info on the Bingo Airways website - click here


External Link to photo of the first Bingo Airways aircraft at Hurn in April 2012


Steve

The Xenon gyrocopter

Over the past 5 years "Celier Aviation" having been building the successful Xenon gyrocopter at their Jaktorów-Kolonia factory ( just south west of Warsaw, Poland ).  By the end of 2011 approximately 140 examples had been built and delivered to customers all over the World.

The company was owned by the Xenon designer Raphael Celier and his business partner Artur Trendak.

In December 2011 a statement on the "Celier Aviation" website made mention of a major re-structuring at the company. A brief message from Mr Celier suggests that he is currently in Russia ( I understand he is part of  French Aviation Technologies ( F.A.T ) which is in Moscow, Russia ).

At the same time a new company and a new website has appeared relating to "Autogyro.eu" - this appears to be managed by Artur Trendak and offers Xenon gyrocopters - the company is also located at Jaktorów-Kolonia.

The new Autogyro.eu website can be found on the link below
 
Autogyro.eu website



The F.A.T website can be found on the link below

French Aviation Technologies website


The Celier Aviation website can be found on the link below

Celier Aviation website



UPDATE - on the 3rd January 2012 I received a copy of a press release from Raphael Celier confirming the separation of the business between the two partners.  Raphael Celier confirms his intention to build Xenon gyrocopters at a near location near the centre of Warsaw, Poland.

So at this moment ( 3.1.12 ) it appears that there are two separate companies both offering to build new Xenon autogyros in Poland. 

In addition I wonder what will happen to the KISS gyrocopter that was under development.



Steve