020 18/2016 PUSZCZYK

The PZL SW-4 Puszczyk is a modern, light, multi-role helicopter of Polish production with a composite-metal structure with a fixed undercarriage, consisting of skids, in a classic arrangement with a main rotor and a tail rotor on the beam. The flight of the first prototype took place in 1996, and serial production started in 2004. In total, about 40 machines of this type have been built so far. The machine is 10.57 meters long and the main rotor diameter is approximately 9 meters. The drive is provided by a single Rolls-Royce 250-C20R / 2 engine with 457 HP. The top speed is up to 260 km / h. The PZL SW-4 Puszczyk was developed at the PZL Świdnik plant as a successor to the licensed Mil Mi-2, and its main user was to be the Polish armed forces. The main constructors of the machine were Stanisław Trębacz and Krzysztof Bzówka. The new helicopter, from its predecessor (Mil Mi-2), differs in many elements, including a completely different propulsion unit, much richer avionics or the use of composite materials on a large scale. At present, the only military user of PZL SW-4 machines is the Polish Air Force, which uses them primarily as training and reconnaissance machines. Despite attempts to win foreign customers, the machine is not widely exported and is not used by any other armed forces in the world.