Romania SMURD receives first PZL Mielec S-70M Black Hawks

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

 

  

S-70i Black Hawk - first flight in Poland

On 15th November 2010 the first flight of the second Polish built S-70i Black Hawk took place at Mielec in Poland. This helicopter is registered as SP-YVA and is the second example built at Mielec but the first to fly in Poland.

Photo courtesy of Sikorsky UTC

The first prototype was rolled out at Mielec in March 2010 before being shipped to the USA, where it first flew as N4905N in July 2010.

Photo link to S-70i N4905N, built at Mielec but now test fling in the USA

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24526864@N03/5191864581/in/photostream/




Saudi Arabia are the launch customer with three S-70i Black Hawks on order for the Ministry of Interior  ( MOI ) and due for delivery during 2011.

More info on the Sikorsky press release via the link below


Sikorsky Press Release


Steve in UK

First S-70i Black Hawk shown at PZL Mielec

The PZL Mielec factory unveiled the first S-70i Black Hawk to be built in Poland on March 15th - Sikorsky bought the PZL mielec factory back in 2007.

The S-70i is an "International" version of the well known Black Hawk helicopter and Sikorsky plan to build 20 airframes per year from 2012.

This first example will be taken to the USA to undergo flight tests at a Sikorsky facility in Florida soon.


More details via the official Sikorsky press release

http://www.sikorsky.com/vgn-ext-templating-SIK/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=00de6eb78fa78110VgnVCM1000001382000aRCRD&vgnextchannel=162f45d57ef68110VgnVCM1000001382000aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&pressvcmid=ec821075c9257210VgnVCM1000004f62529fRCRD



See link below for rollout ceremony photos


http://www.skrzydla.org/showphoto.php?photo_id=21840


Steve