PZL-130 Orlik
A PZL-130 of Orlik Aerobatic Team over Royal International Air Tattoo 2014
Role trainer
National origin Poland
Manufacturer Airbus Poland SA
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 aircraft.

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

Variants

PZL 130 TC-1
PZL-130 TC-2
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 (Garmin)
Variant with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25C turboprop, added winglets, modernized Garmin avionics and changed flight tutor's seat position[7]
PZL-130TC II Orlik (GC)
Variant with glass cockpit and Head-Up Display, company name is Orlik MPT (Multi Purpose Trainer).[8]

Operators

 Poland

Specifications (PZL-130TC II Orlik)

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Notes

  1. ^ Air International October 1985, pp. 167–170.
  2. ^ a b Air International October 1985, p.170.
  3. ^ Air International October 1985, p.172.
  4. ^ Taylor 1988, pp. 195–196.
  5. ^ a b Lambert 1993, p.246.
  6. ^ Taylor 1999, pp. 48–49.
  7. ^ Orlik z Garminem 22 September 2010. (in Polish)
  8. ^ Prezentacja Orlika MPT. 7 March 2014. (in Polish)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to PZL-130 Orlik.
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