It was on this day in aviation history that the PZL 130 Orlik made its first flight. The PZL 130 is a single-engine turboprop two-seat training aircraft built by the PZL Warszawa-Okecie company.
The PZL130 was designed as a replacement for the PZL-110 Kolibers and met the FAR 23 standard, so it could be exported. It was fitted with a low aspect ratio wing to get the handling characteristics similar to the jet fighters the pilots of this aircraft are training for. The prototype was fitted with a Soviet Radial engine, with the production aircraft to be fitted with a Polish built Ivchenko AI-14 engine. PZL planned a turboprop-powered version, the PZL-130T Turbo Orlik, while the Polish Airforce planned to have piston-powered aircraft.
In 1990 the development of the piston engine version was abandoned when the Polish AIrforce switched to the Turboprop powered version.
Although only 50 production aircraft were built (and 9 prototypes) there are 7 versions of the PZL-130 Orlik, an overview:
PZL-130 Orlik Original piston-powered version (Vedeneyev M14Pm engine)
PZL-130T Turbo Orlik P&W PT6A-25P powered version
PZL-130TM Orlik Walter M601E turboprop version
PZL-130TB Orlik Walter M601T turboprop version
PZL-130TC I Orlik Variant equipped with Martin-Baker Mk.11 zero-zero class ejection seats and upgraded avionics
PZL-130TC II Orlik (Garmin) A further upgrade with P&W PT6A-25C turbo-prop engine. Added winglets and modern Garmin Avionics. Also, the flight instructor seat position was changed.
PZL-130TC II Orlik (GC) Variant with a glass cockpit and a Heads Up Display Also known as the Orlik MPT (Multi Purpose Trainer)
Specifications for a 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 (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),
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