PZL 130 Orlik

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. 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 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

Polish Air Force

Polish Navy – Former operator.

Specifications (PZL-130TC II Orlik)

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 (342 mph; 297 kn)

Cruise speed: 490 km/h (304 mph; 265 kn)

Range: 2,200 km (1,367 mi; 1,188 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),