PZL W-3 Sokół

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PZL W-3 Sokół
One of W-3 Sokół armed versions, Airshow 2005 in Radom
Type	Multipurpose utility helicopter
Manufacturer	PZL-Świdnik
Maiden flight	November 16, 1979
Primary users	Polish Armed Forces Czech Air Force Myanmar Air Force
Number built	~150

The PZL W-3 Sokół (Polish for "Falcon") is a Polish medium-size, twin-engine, multipurpose helicopter manufactured by PZL Świdnik.

Contents 1 Development 2 Variants 2.1 Military Versions 2.2 Civil Versions 2.3 Prototypes and proposals 3 Operators 3.1 Military Operators 3.2 Law Enforcement Operators 3.3 Civil Operators 4 Specifications (W-3A) 5 Related content

[edit] Development

The W-3 Sokół ('Falcon') is the first helicopter to be fully designed and serial-built in Poland, and is PZL's most promising sales prospect in the near future.

Work on the project was started at WSK PZL in 1973 by the team of Stanisław Kamiński. The Sokół made its first flight on November 16, 1979, and has since been certificated in Poland, Russia, the US and Germany. Following a fairly protracted development program, low rate production of the Sokół commenced during 1985. Initial sales of the general purpose Sokół were within Poland and in the Eastern Bloc, before the collapse of Communism allowed PZL Swidnik to broaden its sales base. To do this PZL Swidnik developed the improved W3A Sokół aimed at achieving Western certification. Certification to US FAR Pt 29 standards was granted in May 1993, while German certification was granted in December of that year.

The Sokół is of conventional design and construction, with two PZL-10W turboshafts, which are based on the PZL-10S - licensced Russian designed TVD-10B turboprops that power the Polish-built An-28. Composites are used in the four-bladed tail and three-bladed main rotors.

The Sokół is offered in a number of variants and is capable of performing a typical range of helicopter missions, including passenger transport, VIP, cargo, EMS, medevac, firefighting and search and rescue.

The 100th Sokół was completed in June 1996.

[edit] Variants

External images
W-3PL "Głuszec" #0901

[edit] Military Versions

• W-3W Sokół - armed version, with twin 23mm GSz-23Ł cannon and four pylons for weapons (used by WL RP)
• W-3WA Sokół - same like W-3W but based on new W-3A airframe (used by WL RP)
• W-3PPD Gipsówka - flying command centre, has pylons for weapons (just like W-3W) but no 23mm canon (used by WL RP)
• W-3RR Procjon - version for radioelectronic reconnaissance (used by WL RP)
• W-3R Sokół - medical evacuation version (used by SP RP, CzAF)
• W-3RL Sokół - land search and rescue version (used by SP RP)
• W-3RM Anakonda - navalized search and rescue version (used by MW RP)
• W-3WARM Anakonda - same like W-3RM but based on new W-3A airframe (used by MW RP)
• W-3T Sokół - basic (unarmed) transport variant (used by SP RP, CzAF)
• W-3P Sokół - military, pasanger version (used by MW RP)
• W-3S Sokół - VIP transport version. (used by SP RP)

[edit] Civil Versions

• W-3 Sokół - basic civil multi-purpose version
• W-3A Sokół - version with certificate FAR-29;
• W-3AS Sokół - W-3 airframe converted to W-3A standard
• W-3A2 Sokół - version with to-axsis Smith SN 350 autopilot
• W-3AM Sokół - civil version with floats

[edit] Prototypes and proposals

• W-3U Salamandra - armed version, with avionics and arment from Mi-24W (build only one, then converted into transport variant and sold to Myanmar)
• W-3B Jastrząb - proposed armed version with guided AT rockets (never build and never used by Polish Army)
• W-3WB Huzar - proposed armed version with guided AT rockets (never build and never used by Polish Army)
• W-3K Huzar - proposed armed version with guided AT rockets, modification of Kentron company tested by South Africa
• W-3L Sokół Long - proposed stretched version seating up to 14 passengers, project only.
• W-3WS Sokół - proposed gunship version
• W-3MS Sokół - proposed gunship version
• W-3U-1 Aligator - proposed anti-submarine version
• W-3PL Sokół - Created as effect of "Głuszec" W-3 Sokół upgrade program. New Sokół has Multi-function display (MFD) based cockpit, engines with Full Authority Digital Electronics Control (FADEC), Head-up display (HUD), forward looking infrared (FLIR) imager, new defense systems (IR countermeasure and Chaff/Flare dispenser), all new electronic system are integrated around new Mission Computer, air conditioning and composite armor for pilots cabin, new weapons: 12,7mm WKM-B machinegun in moving turret (instead of fixed 23mm canon), new unguided rockets pods with 70mm rockets (compatible with Hydras), new ATGMs, new main rotor. Polish Army ordered 22 helicopters in this variant for Air Cavalry unit.
• W-3CSAR Sokół - Created as effect of "Głuszec" W-3 Sokół upgrade program. Equipped with similar systems like W-3PL but unarmed, instead this variant has better observation and self defense systems (no details reviled yet). Polish Army ordered 4 copters in this variant to support search and rescue (including combat search and rescue) and special operations.

[edit] Operators

[edit] Military Operators

•  Czech Republic
•  Indonesia : Indonesian Army Corps (TNI-AD) will add their armed version of W-3A soon.
•  Iraq
•  Myanmar
•  Poland

[edit] Law Enforcement Operators

•  Germany
•  Poland
•  Republic of Korea

[edit] Civil Operators

•  Italy
•  Nigeria
•  Poland
•  Portugal
•  Russia
•  Republic of Korea
•  Spain
•  United Arab Emirates

[edit] Specifications (W-3A)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 or 2 (pilots or pilot and flight engineer)
• Capacity: 12 passengers
  • SAR: three medical attendants and eight rescued survivors
  • Air Ambulance: four stretchers and one medical attendant
  • EMS: one stretcher and medical attendants
  • Executive: five or six passengers
• Length: 14.21 m (46 ft 8 in)
• Rotor diameter: 15.70 m (51 ft 6 in)
• Height: 5.14 m (16 ft 10 in)
• Disc area: 193.6 m² (2,034 ft²)
• Empty weight: 3,850 kg (8,488 lb)
• Loaded weight: kg (lb
• Max sling load weight: 2,100 kg (4,630 lb))
• Useful load: kg (kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 6,400 kg (14,110 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× WSKPZL Rzeszów PZL-10W turboshaft, 670 kW (900 shp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 260 km/h (knots, mph)
• Cruise speed: 234 km/h (131 knots)
• Range: 745 km (402 nm
• Aux. fuel range: 1,290 km (696 nm))
• Service ceiling: 5,100 m (19,680 ft)
• Rate of climb: 10 m/s (2008 ft/min)
• Disc loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: W/kg (hp/lb)

[edit] Related content

Designation sequence

SM-1 - SM-2 - Mi-2 - PZL Kania - PZL W-3 Sokół - SW-4