PZL W-3 Sokół

The PZL W-3 Sokół (Polish for "Falcon") is a Polish medium-size, twin-engine, multipurpose helicopter manufactured by PZL-Świdnik (now AgustaWestland Świdnik).

Development


The W-3 Sokół ('Falcon') is the first helicopter to be fully designed and serial-built in Poland.

Work on the project was started at WSK PZL Świdnik in 1973 by the team of Stanisław Kamiński. The Sokół made its first flight on November 16, 1979, and has since been certificated in Poland, Russia, the US and Germany. Design of W-3 was definitely inspired by the Soviet Mil Mi-2, license-produced by PZL-Świdnik in Poland, since 1962 during all the period when Poland was a participant of Eastern-European Communist block. The new helicopter was bigger, and it was designed to meet the demands of a military and civilian aviation of the Soviet Union, which was planned to be its major user. Following a development program, low rate production of the Sokół commenced during 1985. Certification to US FAR Pt 29 standards was granted in May 1993, while German certification was granted in December of that year.

The Sokół is of conventional design and construction, with two PZL-10W turboshafts, which are based on the PZL-10S - licensed Russian designed TVD-10B turboprops that power the Polish-built An-28. Composites are used in the three-bladed tail and four-bladed main rotors.

The Sokół is offered in a number of variants and is capable of performing a typical range of helicopter missions, including passenger transport, VIP, cargo, EMS, medevac, firefighting and search and rescue.

The 100th Sokół was completed in June 1996.

Operational history
Since 2003, four W-3WA were used by the Independent Air Attack Group (Samodzielna Grupa Powietrzno-Szturmowa) of the Polish forces in Iraq. In total eight helicopters were deployed until 2008. One of them (serial number 360902) crashed in an accident near Karbala on 15 December 2004. Three soldiers died, three were wounded.

Civil Versions
Civil production versions.


 * W-3 Sokół
 * Basic civil multi-purpose version. 30 built (excl. prototypes).


 * W-3A Sokół
 * Version with FAR-29 certificate. At least 9 built (excl. military operators).


 * W-3AS Sokół
 * W-3 airframe converted to W-3A standard. 22 converted.


 * W-3A2 Sokół
 * Version with two-axis Smith SN 350 autopilot. One built.


 * W-3AM Sokół
 * Civil version with floats. 13 built.

Military Versions
Military production versions.


 * W-3 / W-3T / W-3P Sokół
 * Basic (unarmed) transport/passanger variant used by Polish Air Force (6), Navy (2) and Myanmar Air Force (13, inc. two for VIP).


 * W-3A Sokół
 * Military transport variant of the W-3A version used by Czech (11) and Philippine Air Force (8). Some of the Czech helicopters were modified for the emergency medical services. Filipino examples can carry M60 machine gun on each side. Iraqi Air Force returned two VIP-configured Sokół to the intermediary company after cancelling the order.


 * W-3P/S/A VIP Sokół
 * VIP transport version used by Polish Air Force. Eight built.


 * W-3W/WA Sokół
 * Armed version, with twin 23 mm GSz-23Ł cannon and four pylons for weapons used by Polish Land Forces. W-3WA is a variant with FAR-29 certificate. 34 built.


 * W-3AE Sokół
 * Medical evacuation version used by Polish Land Forces (AE for "Aero Ewakuacja"). Three W-3WA upgraded.


 * W-3R Sokół
 * Medical evacuation version used by Polish Air Force. Two built.


 * W-3RL Sokół
 * Land search and rescue version used by Polish Air Force. Six built.


 * W-3RM / W-3WARM Anakonda
 * "Anakonda" (Polish for "Anaconda") Navalized search and rescue version used by Polish Navy. W-3WARM is a variant with FAR-29 certificate. Eight built.


 * W-3PSOT / W-3PPD Gipsówka
 * "Gipsówka" (Polish for "Gypsophila") W-3PPD was a flying command centre variant (PPD stands for "Powietrzny Punkt Dowodzenia" - "Airborne Command Post"). In 2006 this variant received new digital battlefield (after modernization helicopter is able to guide artillery equipped with Topaz fire control system) and observation systems and was adopted by Polish Land Forces Aviation under new name W-3PSOT (PSOT stands for "Powietrzne Stanowisko Obserwacji Terenu" - "Airborne Observation Post"). This variant is equipped with pylons for weapons (same like in W-3W) but has no 23 mm fixed cannon. One built.


 * W-3RR Procjon
 * "Procjon" (Polish for "Procyon") is a radioelectronic reconnaissance version (RR stands for "Rozpoznanie Radioelektroniczne" - "Radioelectronic Reconnaissance"). Three built.


 * W-3PL Głuszec
 * "Głuszec" (Polish for "Capercaillie") is a PZL W-3WA upgrade program to bring armed variant of Sokół up to 21st century standards by including advanced avionic systems (in Glass cockpit configuration) and other changes like FADEC-equipped engines. Avionics include two 10″ MFD displays, single tactical display (maps and Elbit Toplite FLIR), INS/GPS, TACAN, VOR/ILS, DME navigation, HUD, IFF, PNL-3 night vision goggles, HOCAS (Hands on Colective and Stick) control, infrared and radar warning receiver, MIL-STD-1553B data link. Twin 23 mm cannon was replaced by single pilot's controlled 12,7 mm WKM-Bz machine gun with 350 rounds. Designed for Combat Search and Rescue duties. The first prototype (s/n: 360901) was tested by the Land Forces aviation in 2009. Eight W-3WA are to be upgraded.

Prototypes and proposals
Prototypes and proposals that were not adopted by Armed Forces.


 * W-3B Jastrząb
 * Proposed armed version with tandem cabin (like AH-1 Cobra) and guided AT rockets.


 * W-3K/W-3WB Huzar
 * Proposed armed version with guided ZT-35 Swift AT rockets, FLIR and 20 mm GA-1 cannon with helmet-mounted sight. Modification by Kentron (Denel) company in 1993 tested in South Africa. Some elements like hardpoint were used in serial W-3W/W-3WA variant. One built.


 * W-3L Sokół Long
 * Proposed stretched version seating up to 14 passengers, mockup only.


 * W-3MS/W-3WS Sokół
 * Proposed gunship version.


 * W-3U Salamandra
 * Armed version, with avionics and armament from Mi-24W. Only one built, later converted into transport variant and sold to Myanmar.


 * W-3U-1 Aligator
 * Proposed anti-submarine version.


 * W-3PL/N
 * Proposed navalised version of W-3PL with folding rotor, radar, dipping sonar, air-to-surface missiles and torpedoes.

Operators

 * Algerian Air Force (8 on order)
 * Corporación Nacional Forestal
 * Czech Air Force
 * Corporación Nacional Forestal
 * Czech Air Force
 * Czech Air Force
 * Landespolizei (Saxony)
 * Myanmar Air Force
 * $\phi$
 * Philippine Air Force
 * Polish Air Force
 * Polish Border Guard
 * Polish Land Forces Aviation
 * Polish Navy
 * Polish Police
 * Polish Land Forces Aviation
 * Polish Navy
 * Polish Police