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

 

 

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

 

  

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.

 

 

 

 

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

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

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

Poles at Son Bonet, Mallorca, Spain - August 2010

Noted at Son Bonet airfield ( a few miles North of Palma city ) on the island of Mallorca, Spain on 14th August 2010 were

EC-JUM - PZL Swidnik W-3AM Sokol c/n 370707 - this Sokol helicopter was built in late 1996 and test flew at Swidnik as SP-SYL (2) prior to delivery to South Korea for use by Daewoo as HL9257.

In 2006 it was sold onto Spain and became EC-JUM, owned by Sky Helicopters - it is now operated on behalf of the Govern de les Illes Balears ( the local government for the Ballearic Islands ) and is coded "H01" and is on standby for local emergency use and firefighting duties.

Also seen at Son Bonet was An-2 c/n 1G190-59 - this aircraft was built in 1981 and delivered to the USSR as CCCP-84627. In 1997 it was transferred to the Ukrainian aircraft register as UR-84627.
 

 
During 2005 this An-2 UR-84627 arrived at Son Bonet airfield on the island of Mallorca together with several other Ukraine registered An-2 aircraft. After sitting in the sun withdrawn from use for several years the airport authorities decided to auction these aircraft - today UR-84627 is the only example left. The registration has been overpainted from the fuselage but is still visible under the port wing. Note the "IV" marking - this may be connected with the auction.

The other three former Ukrainian An-2 that were sold off at Son Bonet were

UR-31497 - sold and become SP-OOH
UR-81649 - sold and became SP-FAV
UR-TAS - sold and became SP-AIN


I wonder if UR-84627 will ever fly again.


Steve

Rotorway Exec 162F G-BZXD sold to Poland

G-BZXD Rotorway Exec 162F helicopter was cancelled from the UK CAA "G-..." aircraft register on 3rd August 2010 as sold to Poland.

This small helicopter was built in 2001 but had flown only 17 flight hours by 31.12.09 - it is painted in a very distinctive red/yellow/green colour scheme - more details on the web link below

http://www.rotorway.co.uk/content/view/32/18/

If you see this helicopter in Poland please let me know - thanks


Steve

Aero-Kros - Rotorway A600 Talon helicopters

Aero-Kros at Krosno in Poland are the import agents for Rotorways helicopters in Poland.

They have recently completed the building of their 3rd A600 Talon helicopter, registered SP-YKG - see below.

photo courtesy of Aero-Kros

photo courtesy of Aero-Kros

The first example was SP-YSZ which was displayed at Aero 2009 at Friedrichshafen, Germany in April 2009.
 
The  three helicopters are


SP-YFW c/n 8045

SP-YKG  c/n 8044

SP-YSZ  c/n 8043


Click here for more images of the Aero-Kros website


Click here for more info on the Rotorway A600 Talon


Steve

SP-NAM - Bell 427

Bell 427 c/n 56076 was reported passing through Amsterdam Schipol in The Netherlands as cargo on 22.1.10.

This helicopter was built by Bell Textron in Canada and was cancelled from the Canadian register on 19.1.09 as C-FXSY.

UPDATE - May 2010

I'd like to thank Jacek Wójcis for supplying the photo of SP-NAM taken at Bydgoszcz in May 2010


Steve

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

UK "G-..." register - 2 Polish aircraft exported - March 2010

The latest UK CAA "G-...." aircraft register shows one Polish built aircraft has been exported from the UK and one Robinson R44 helicopter has been exported to Poland from the UK.


G-CBGA PZL 110 Koliber 160A c/n 04010086 - cancelled on 1.3.10 as exported to France ( F ). This Koliber was registered in the UK in 11.01 and was previously SP-WGM ( it was displayed at Friedrichshafen trade show in April 2001 as SP-WGM ).

UPDATE - this aircraft was registered in France on 8th April 2010 as F-HAZE

see link below for photo of G-CBGA

http://www.caa.co.uk/applicationmodules/ginfo/ginfo_photo.aspx?regmark=G-CBGA&imgname=G-CBGA001&imgtype=jpg


G-CEVI Robinson R44 Raven II c/n 11993 - cancelled on as exported to Poland ( SP ). This R44 was built in 2007 and was registered as SP-GTD in Poland in June 2010.


If you see SP-GTD in Poland please let me know - thanks.


see link below for photo of G-CEVI

http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1084413/



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

New Polish Ultralight Helicopter Register

Today I found a photo of SP-HLMM a Revolution Mini 500 ultralight helicopter. This is yet another new registration range issued by the ULC in Poland - I think the category is limited to under 270 KG.


Please let me know if you know the details of any more Ultralight Helicopters in Poland - thank you


The helicopter is currently for sale - more details via


http://moto.allegro.pl/show_item.php?item=842035295&msg=Tw%C3%B3j+e-mail+zosta%C5%82+wys%C5%82any.



Steve