| PZL-130 Orlik | |
|---|---|
 A PZL-130 of Orlik Aerobatic Team over Royal International Air Tattoo 2014 | |
| General information | |
| Type | trainer |
| National origin | Poland |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Poland SA |
| Primary user | Polish Air Force |
| Number built | 50 + 9 prototypes |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1994 |
| First flight | 24 October 1984 |
The PZL 130 Orlik (English: Eaglet ) is a Polish turboprop, single engine, two seat trainer aircraft.
The Orlik was designed by PZL Warszawa-Okecie as a trainer for the Polish Air Force, intended as a replacement for its PZL-110 Kolibers. It was also designed to meet the US FAR 23 standard. The project was under the supervision of Andrzej Frydrychewicz, head engineer of PZL Warszawa-Okecie. It was fitted with a low-aspect ratio wing to better simulate the handling characteristics of jet fighters. [1] The aircraft was designed to be powered by a Soviet-designed and built Vedeneyev M14Pm radial engine with the intention of replacing it by a modified Polish built Ivchenko AI-14 engine in production aircraft. [2] The first prototype Orlik flew on 12 October 1984, with a second prototype following in December and a third in January 1985. [2]
While the Polish Air Force planned to power its Orliks with locally produced radial engines, PZL planned a turboprop powered version, the PZL-130T Turbo Orlik for export purposes. [3] The third prototype was therefore re-fitted with a 410 kW (550 shp) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-25P turboprop, flying in this form on 13 July 1986, but was destroyed in a crash in January 1987 while being demonstrated to a representative of the Colombian Air Force. [4] Two further turboprop prototypes followed in 1989 and 1990, powered by a Czech-built 560 kW (750 shp) Walter M-601E and a PT6A-25 as the PZL-130TB and PZL-130TP respectively. [5]
In 1990, development of the piston-engined Orlik was abandoned, as the Polish built radial engines gave insufficient power, with Polish interest switching to the M-601 powered PZL-130TB. [5]
Deliveries of PZL-130TBs to Poland started in 1994, with the aircraft equipping the Military Pilot Academy at Dęblin and the 60th Training Air Regiment at Radom. All Polish PZL-130TBs were upgraded to the TC-1 standard type, with better ejection seats and avionics. [6]
Poland 
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
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