PZL-130 Orlik

PZL-130 Orlik
Role	trainer
National origin	Poland
Manufacturer	PZL Warszawa-Okecie
First flight	24 October 1984
Introduction	1994
Primary user	Polish Air Force
Number built	50 + 9 prototypes

The PZL 130 Orlik (English: Eaglet) is a Polish turboprop, single engine, two seat trainer.

Development and design[]

The Orlik was designed by PZL Warszawa-Okecie as a trainer for the Polish Air Force, intended as a replacement for its PZL-110 Kolibers. It was also designed to meet the American FAR 23 standard. The project was under the supervision of Andrzej Frydrychewicz, head engineer of PZL Warszawa-Okecie. It was fitted with a low-aspect ratio wing to better simulate the handling characteristics of jet fighters.^[1] The aircraft was designed to be powered by a Soviet-designed and built Vedeneyev M14Pm radial engine with the intention of replacing it by a modified Polish built Ivchenko AI-14 engine in production aircraft.^[2] The first prototype Orlik flew on 12 October 1984, with a second prototype following in December and a third in January 1985.^[2]

While the Polish Air Force planned to power its Orliks with locally produced radial engines, PZL planned a turboprop powered version, the PZL-130T Turbo Orlik for export purposes.^[3] The third prototype was therefore re-fitted with a 410 kW (550 shp) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-25P turboprop, flying in this form on 13 July 1986, but was destroyed in a crash in January 1987 while being demonstrated to a representative of the Colombian Air Force.^[4] Two further turboprop prototypes followed in 1989 and 1990, powered by a Czech-built 560 kW (750 shp) Walter M-601E and a PT6A-25 as the PZL-130TB and PZL-130TP respectively.^[5]

In 1990, development of the piston-engined Orlik was abandoned, as the Polish built radial engines gave insufficient power, with Polish interest switching to the M-601 powered PZL-130TB.^[5]

Operational history[]

Deliveries of PZL-130TBs to the Polish started in 1994, with the aircraft equipping the Military Pilot Academy at Dęblin and the 60th Training Air Regiment at Radom. All of Poland's PZL-130TBs were upgraded to TC-1 standard, with better ejection seats and avionics.^[6]

Variants[]

PZL-130 Orlik: The original aircraft with one Vedeneyev M14Pm piston engine
PZL-130T Turbo Orlik: Variant with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25P turboprop engine
PZL-130TM Orlik: Variant with a Walter M601E turboprop engine
PZL-130TB Orlik: Variant with a Walter M601T turboprop engine
PZL-130TC I Orlik: Variant with added Martin-Baker Mk.11, zero-zero class ejection seats and modernized avionics
PZL-130TC II Orlik: Variant with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25C turboprop, added winglets, modernized avionics and changed tutor's seat position
PZL-130TC III Orlik: Variant with modernized avionics (for example: added Head-Up Display)

Operators[]

Poland

Polish Air Force
Polish Navy - Former operator.

Specifications (PZL-130TC II Orlik)[]

General characteristics

Crew: 2: student, instructor
Length: 9.30 m ()
Wingspan: 10.00 m ()
Height: 3.53 m ()
Wing area: 14.56 m² ()
Empty weight: 1,825 kg ()
Loaded weight: 2,400 kg ()
Max. takeoff weight: 2,950 kg ()
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25C turboprop, 750 hp ()

Performance

Maximum speed: 550 km/h
Cruise speed: 480-500 km/h
Range: 2,200 km ()
Service ceiling: 10.000m ()

Armament

Hardpoints: 6 under-wing pylons with a capacity of 700 kg

References[]

↑ Air International October 1985, pp. 167–170.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Air International October 1985, p.170.
↑ Air International October 1985, p.172.
↑ Taylor 1988, pp. 195–196.
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 Lambert 1993, p.246.
↑ Taylor 1999, pp. 48–49.

Lambert, Mark. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993-94. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Data Division, 1993. ISBN 0-7106-1066-1.
"Orlik…A Polish Fledgeling". Air International, October 1985, Vol 29 No 4. pp. 167–172. ISSN 0306-5634.
Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Defence Data, 1988. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.
Taylor, Michael J.H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999. ISBN 1-85753-245-7.

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to PZL-130 Orlik.

List of all PZL-130 trainers used by Polish Air Force

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at PZL-130 Orlik and the edit history here.

[AI_p167-70-1] Air International October 1985, pp. 167–170.

[AI_p170-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Air International October 1985, p.170.

[AI_p172-3] Air International October 1985, p.172.

[Janes_88_p195-6-4] Taylor 1988, pp. 195–196.

[Janes_93_p246-5] 5.0 ^5.1 Lambert 1993, p.246.

[Brasseys_99_p48-9-6] Taylor 1999, pp. 48–49.

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