PZL-Świdnik
| File:Pzl.png | |
| Manufacturer | |
| Industry | Aviation |
| Founded | 1951 |
| Headquarters | Świdnik, Poland |
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Key people
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CEO Mieczysław Majewski |
| Products | Military and Civil Helicopters |
| Parent | AgustaWestland |
| Website | http://www.pzl.swidnik.pl/ |
PZL Świdnik S.A (Wytwórnia Sprzętu Komunikacyjnego PZL-Świdnik S.A.) is the biggest helicopter manufacturer in Poland. Its main products are PZL W-3 Sokół and PZL SW-4 Puszczyk helicopters. In early 2010 the factory was acquired by AgustaWestland.[1]
History
History of plant establishment dating back to 1920, when in Lublin opened the first aircraft factory "Plage i Laśkiewicz". After World War II part of the senior instructors staff incorporated into the newly formed "Wytwórnia Sprzętu Komunikacyjnego".[2] In 1951 a third national aerospace factory, WSK-Świdnik, was built in Świdnik, and in 1957 it was renamed to WSK PZL-Świdnik. Since 1956 it has become one of the world's major helicopter manufacturers, producing helicopters under the Soviet licence, starting with the SM-1 (Mil Mi-1). Świdnik was the main producer of the Mi-1 and exclusive producer of the widely used in the world Mil Mi-2. Since the late 1980s, Świdnik has been producing a Polish-designed medium helicopter PZL W-3 Sokół. It also produces a light helicopter, the PZL SW-4 Puszczyk. After 1991 the state factory became a state-owned corporation (WSK "PZL-Świdnik" SA). It also produced the Pirat, PW-5 and PW-6 gliders and cooperates widely with other nations' manufacturers, e.g., in the manufacture of Agusta A109 fuselages.
From 1954 until 1980 the WSK PZL-Świdnik was also a manufacturer of motorcycles, branded as the WSK. Some 2,000,000 of motorcycles of the WSK M06 125 cc and WSK M21 175 cc families were made in that period.[3]
In early 2010 the factory was acquired by AgustaWestland.
Products
- Mil Mi-1
- Mil Mi-2
- PZL Kania (Kitty Hawk) - PZL developed, in conjunction with the American aero-engine company Allison, version of the Mi-2 for export, the Kania or Kitty Hawk
- PZL W-3 Sokół (Falcon)
- PZL SW-4 Puszczyk (Tawny Owl)
- PZL SM-2
- PZL SM-4 Łątka (Dragonfly)
See also
References
- ↑ Gazeta Wyborcza article from Feb. 2, 2010 [1]
- ↑ http://oldtimery.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=669:zakady-mechaniczne-e-plage-i-t-lakiewicz-w-lublinie&catid=18:stare-samochody&Itemid=705
- ↑ (Polish) Adam Zakrzewski, Auto-moto PRL: władcy dróg i poboczy, Demart, Warsaw 2010, ISBN 978-83-7427-484-5, p.158
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to PZL-Świdnik. |
- PZL-Świdnik official webpage (English)
