PZL-130 Orlik

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]

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]

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]

 Poland

• Polish Air Force
• Polish Navy – Former operator.

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 9.3 m (30 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)
• Height: 3.53 m (11 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 14.56 m² (156.7 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 1,825 kg (4,023 lb)
• Gross weight: 2,400 kg (5,291 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,950 kg (6,504 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25C turboprop, 560 kW (750 shp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 550 km/h (340 mph, 300 kn)
• Cruise speed: 490 km/h (300 mph, 260 kn)
• Range: 2,200 km (1,400 mi, 1,200 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 14.4 m/s (2,830 ft/min)

Armament

• Hardpoints: 6 with a capacity of 700 kg (1,500 lb)

• Orlik Aerobatic Team

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Atlas ACE
• Beechcraft T-6 Texan II
• Beechcraft T-34 Mentor
• Embraer EMB 312 Tucano
• Fuji T-7
• KAI KT-1
• Pilatus PC-7
• Pilatus PC-9
• Short Tucano
• Socata TB-31 Omega
• TAI Hürkuş
• Kobac
• HAL HTT-40

• 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.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to PZL-130 Orlik.

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