Gray Light Aviation of France have posted images of a brand new Ekolot KR-030 SW Topaz from the Ekolot factory at Krosno in Poland.
Photo courtesy Gray Light Aviation
The aircraft is finished in a white/blue colour scheme and shows the underwing Dept registration 89-XT and radio callsign F-JLBL in the cockpit.
The aircraft is likely to be from production batch 030-13.... or 030-14....
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
If you have an interest in Polish aircraft and or the "SP" Polish civil aviation register then you may want to join and contribute to my Facebook group, see below
https://www.facebook.com/groups/892627295471562
Historic to Modern - S-13 Ambulance SP-BIB(1) registered in September 1957, here is the original register entry - SP-BIB has been re-used twice since then - BIB(2) Sekpol balloon from 1998 to 2008 and BIB(3) Lindstrand balloon from 2019.
Anything "SP-" registered can be discussed !
The group is for SP registered aircraft/gliders/helicopters/ultralights/balloons/gyrocopters after 1945 till today.
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
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.
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
PZL 110 Koliber 150 registration G-BVAI has just returned to Poland after a ferry flight by Plane4You from its home base in Ireland.
This Koliber is S/N 03900040 ( ie Koliber #40 ) and was built at the PZL factory at Okecie in Warsaw and had its first flight on 29th June 1990. The aircraft was delivered new to a customer in Denmark as OY-CYJ in August 1990. In July 1993 this Koliber was imported into the UK taking up the registration G-BVAI and since then has had ten registered owners in the UK. By August 2018 it had flown 1,004 flight hours.
The aircraft is now with the Aeroklub at Swidnik having departed its home base of Birr, Ireland and routing via Waterford Ireland, Bristol UK, Biggin Hill UK, Antwerp Belgium, Kassel Germany, Berlin Schönhagen, Leszno Poland, Warsaw-Bemowo Poland and finally to Swidnik. G-BVAI was cancelled by the UK CAA on 20th October 2021.
The aircraft was registered in Poland on 30th May 2022 as SP-ASW(3).
Note that SP-ASW(1) was a CSS-13 biplane from 1954 to 1965 - SP-ASW(2) was a Mil Mi-2 from 1998 to 2011.
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
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
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,
On 4th July 2023 the first Aviation Artur Trendak Tercel gyrocopter was registered in the UK as G-CMTC with serial number T&S K32021RSTI - ie gyro #320.
The Polish built Tercel two seat side by side ( SxS ) gyro has been registered to Forward Aviation Ltd of Princes Risborough, UK.
Hopefully the first of many other Tercels to come to the UK.
A recent new biz-jet registration in Poland is SP-IZU - Cessna 525 Citation Jet 1 with S/N 525-0396 - this Citation was built in 2000 and was registered in Poland on 21st February 2023 ( ex EC-MPN ) with Bartolini Air, based at Lodz ( EPLL )
On April 27th 2023 Bartolini Air posted the following about Citation SP-IZU - "The
third light jet in our commercial fleet - a Cessna Citation Jet 1 (reg.
SP-IZU) with a stunning, fully refurbished interior - is airborne in
its maiden flight as we speak! At the controls: Bartek Walas himself
(Captain and C525 Type Rating Instructor) and Marc Meuleman - a Bartolini Air
flight instructor in his first-ever commercial jet flight (beginning
his line training as FO). The aircraft is repositioning from Modlin
(EPMO) to Hamburg (EDDH) to pick up a passenger and take him to London Luton (EGGW)."
Photos courtesy Bartolini Air
G-OPYO Pioneer 300 Hawk was cancelled from the UK aircraft register on 6th March 2023 as sold to Poland. This aircraft was built in 2009 with PFA ( LAA ) serial PFA 330A-14597 - by July 2021 it had flown over 505 flight hours. This aircraft had an accident in November 2021 when it ran out of fuel and had to make a forced landing into a field. The Pioneer will likely join the Polish Ultralight ( Ultralekkie ) register shortly.
Skydream recently shared a photo of brand new BRM Aero Bristell LSA SP-NEXT - this LSA version offer a MTOW of 600kg. The aircraft is registered in the Polish ultralight ( ultralekkie ) sequence but outside of the more usual SP-SAAA-SP-SZZZ range.
SP-NEXT is S/N 643 and was registered in Poland in February 2023.
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
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
In December 2022 Ekolot published a short video on their social media feed showing the prototype KR-040 Dominator test flying - this may have been its first flight.
The new low wing two seater ( side by side ) is powered by a Rotax 915iS engine and has the manufacturers test registration SP-ZARD
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.
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.
An excellent archive photo of Fauvel AV-36C SP-1979 taken at Warsaw Bemowo ( EPBC Babice ) in 1984 - this most unusual tailess glider was built in France in 1958 and was registered in Poland in June 1959. For many years it was flown by the Politechnic Warszawa.
This glider still exists and for the past twenty years it has hung on the wall of the Aeroklub hangar at Bemowo, still in good condition.
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.
Aeroprakt Manufacturing of Poland delivered another new A-22LS Foxbat ( MTOW 600KG ) in June 2021 - painted black and gold the aircraft is registered as SP-SENO, see photo below.
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
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.
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
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
Skysport Poland have recently imported several more examples of the South African built Skyreach Bushcat ultralight aircraft into Poland.
Aircraft number 254 is shown in the photo below being delivered to a customer in Poland in March 2021.
Other Bushcats in Poland include SP-SMON and SP-SZKY plus more in build.
Photos courtesy Skysport 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
Gray Light Aviation of France recently posted images of two new Ekolot aircraft from Krosno, Poland delivered to France in January 2021 by truck - the pictures show one new JK-05 Junior and one new KR-030 Topaz - construction numbers are unknown - Junior production had reached batch 10 and Topaz production has reached batch 11 by 2020.
Photos with thanks to Gray Light Aviation
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
At the end of October Ekolot test flew their new version of the Topaz, the Topaz SW. This version features a wing span reduced from the previous standard of 10.52m span to 9.52m. The wing fuel tanks have been removed and placed inside the fuselage.
This allows the wings to be disassembled for easier transport inside a trailer or to store the aircraft in a building. The first flight took place at Krosno airfield in late October 2020 with the aircraft wearing the test registration SP-ZARA.
Air Res Aviation have released images of their latest new build T-131PA Jungmann - this example is serial number 104 and has been painted in period colours to represent Luftwaffe use by unit Jg 54. The Jungmann is available for sale at their Rzeszow site.
This new Jungmann is currently advertised for sale on the link below
New Jungmann for sale at PlaneCheck
A replica RWD-8 basic two seat tandem trainer is nearing completion - the project has been built by Henryk Wicki of TZL Aviation at Swidnik in Poland. The RWD-8 high wing single engine aircraft was used extensively in Poland during the 1930s by both the Polish Air Force and local aeroclubs. Over 500 examples were built although none are known to exist today.
photo courtesy Warsztat Lotniczy TZL
The replica is expected to have its first flight in late September 2020 and is registered on the Ultralight register as SP-STZL
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
