PZL-130 Orlik

PZL-130 Orlik
A PZL-130 of Orlik Aerobatic Team over Royal International Air Tattoo 2014
General information
TypeTrainer
National origin
Poland
ManufacturerAirbus Poland SA
Primary userPolish Air Force
Number built50 + 9 prototypes
History
Introduction date
1994
First flight24 October 1984

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. 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. The first prototype Orlik flew on 12 October 1984, with a second prototype following in December and a third in January 1985.

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. 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. 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.

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.

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.

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
PZL-130TC II Orlik (GC)
Variant with glass cockpit and Head-Up Display, company name is Orlik MPT (Multi Purpose Trainer).

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. 1 2 Air International October 1985, p.170.
  3. ↑ Air International October 1985, p.172.
  4. ↑ Taylor 1988, pp. 195–196.
  5. 1 2 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