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

Development and design

The Orlik was designed by PZL, PZL Warszawa-Okecie as a trainer for the Polish Air Force, intended as a replacement for its Socata Rallye, PZL-110 Kolibers. It was also designed to meet the US Federal Aviation Regulations, FAR 23 standard. The project was under the supervision of Andrzej Frydrychewicz, head engineer of PZL Warszawa-Okecie. It was fitted with a Aspect ratio (wing), low-aspect ratio wing to better simulate the handling characteristics of jet fighters.''Air International'' October 1985, pp. 167–170. The aircraft was designed to be powered by a Soviet Union, 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.''Air International'' October 1985, p.170. 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.''Air International'' October 1985, p.172. The third prototype was therefore re-fitted with a 410 kW (550 shp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A, 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.Taylor 1988, pp. 195–196. 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.Lambert 1993, p.246. 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.Taylor 1999, pp. 48–49.

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).Prezentacja Orlika MPT.
7 March 2014.

Operators

;: * Polish Air Force * Polish Navy – Former operator.

Specifications (PZL-130TC II Orlik)

Notes

References

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

External links

List of all PZL-130 trainers used by Polish Air Force
{{PZL aircraft PZL aircraft 1980s Polish military trainer aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft Single-engined turboprop aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1984