PZL-Świdnik

PZL-ŚWIDNIK S.A

Type	Manufacturer
Industry	Aviation
Founded	1951
Headquarters	Świdnik, Poland
Key people	CEO Mieczysław Majewski
Products	Military and Civil Helicopters
Website	http://www.pzl.swidnik.pl/

PZL W-3 Gluszec (upgraded) of Polish Land Forces

PZL SW-4 of Polish Air Force

WSK M06B3 motorcycle

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

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 from 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. Recently, the factory has entered talks with Sikorsky regarding licenced production of the UH-60 for the foreign and domestic market, should the Polish army procure the helicopters.

In early 2010 the factory was acquired by AugustaWestland.

The Lublin 1980 strikes started in the factory.

From 1954 until 1980 the WSK PZL-Świdnik was also manufacturer of motorcycles, branded as the WSK. Some 2,000,000 of motorcycles of the WSK M06 125 ccm and WSK M21 175 ccm families were made in that period.^[2]

Products

PZL Kania of the Polish Police

• PZL Kania 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
• PZL SW-4

References

1. ^ Gazeta Wyborcza article from Feb. 2, 2010 [1]
2. ^ (Polish) Adam Zakrzewski, Auto-moto PRL: władcy dróg i poboczy, Demart, Warsaw 2010, ISBN 978-83-7427-484-5, p.158

External links

• PZL-Świdnik official webpage (English)

See also

• PZL