PZL-Mielec
Encyclopedia
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
aerospace manufacturer
Aerospace manufacturer
An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing, building, testing, selling, and maintaining aircraft, aircraft parts, missiles, rockets, and/or spacecraft....
, based in Mielec
Mielec
Mielec is a city in south-eastern Poland with a population of 60,979 inhabitants, as of June 2009. It is located in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship ; previously it was in Rzeszów Voivodeship...
. It is the largest aerospace manufacturer in postwar Poland.
In 2007 it was acquired by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, retaining the brand.
Before 1945
In 1938-1939 a factory was built in Mielec, designated as PZL WP-2 (Wytwórnia Płatowców 2 - Airframe Factory no.2), which was a division of the biggest Polish aviation works PZLPZL
PZL was the main Polish aerospace manufacturer of the interwar period, based in Warsaw, functioning in 1928-1939...
in Warsaw (Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze - State Aviation Works), but the production was only starting there at the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In March 1939 the first aircraft were manufactured - PZL.37 Łoś bombers, assembled from components delivered from PZL WP-1 factory in Warsaw.
Heinkel
Heinkel Flugzeugwerke was a German aircraft manufacturing company founded by and named after Ernst Heinkel. It is noted for producing bomber aircraft for the Luftwaffe in World War II and for important contributions to high-speed flight.-History:...
works, producing tailfins of Heinkel He 111
Heinkel He 111
The Heinkel He 111 was a German aircraft designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter in the early 1930s in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Often described as a "Wolf in sheep's clothing", it masqueraded as a transport aircraft, but its purpose was to provide the Luftwaffe with a fast medium...
bombers and repairing Junkers Ju 52
Junkers Ju 52
The Junkers Ju 52 was a German transport aircraft manufactured from 1932 to 1945. It saw both civilian and military service during the 1930s and 1940s. In a civilian role, it flew with over 12 air carriers including Swissair and Deutsche Luft Hansa as an airliner and freight hauler...
planes. In July 1944 the withdrawing Germans took all the machines and equipment. Mielec was seized by the Soviet Army on 6 August 1944. At first, the factory was governed by the Soviets as a repair works. On 22 July 1945 it was handed over back to Polish control.
1945 to present
The factory in Mielec was renamed Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze (PZL) - Zakład nr 1 (State Aviation Works, No.1 plant), being a state-owned factory. At first it was aircraft repair works and produced mostly non-aviation items, like bus bodies, scales, etc. The first plane constructed in Mielec was a simple trainer PZL S-1PZL S-1
-See also:-References:* at Poser site*Janusz Babiejczuk, Jerzy Grzegorzewski: Polski przemysł lotniczy 1945-1973, Warsaw 1973 -External links:*...
, flown on 15 November 1945 and built in one unit only (it was the second plane built in Poland after the war).
The factory in Mielec produced aircraft mostly under licence or designed in other Polish bureaus. In 1948 the factory built a small series of 10 utility planes LWD Szpak
LWD Szpak
-References:*Babiejczuk, Janusz and Grzegorzewski, Jerzy: Polski przemysł lotniczy 1945-1973 , Wydawnictwo MON, Warsaw 1974 *Krzyżan, Marian: Samoloty w muzeach polskich, Warsaw 1983, ISBN 83-206-0432...
-4T, designed in the LWD (it was the first Polish post-war series-built plane). In the same year there started a production of licensed Polikarpov Po-2
Polikarpov Po-2
The Polikarpov Po-2 served as a general-purpose Soviet biplane, nicknamed Kukuruznik for maize; thus, 'maize duster' or 'crop duster'), NATO reporting name "Mule"...
biplanes under a designation CSS-13, and 180 were built by 1950 (they were also produced by PZL Warszawa-Okęcie). In 1950 also a small series of pre-war Polish Salamandra gliders was built.
In 1949 the factory was renamed, like all Polish aerospace industry at that time, as Wytwórnia Sprzętu Komunikacyjnego – zakład nr 1, in short WSK-1 Mielec (Communication Equipment Factory, No. 1 plant). Later it returned to a traditional name Wytwórnia Sprzętu Komunikacyjnego "PZL-Mielec" (WSK "PZL-Mielec"), in an honor of the PZL brand.
Starting from 1950, the factory developed much and became the biggest Polish aircraft producer. It was a licensed producer of the Soviet jet fighters MiG-15 (produced as Lim-1), MiG-15bis (Lim-2), MiG-17 (Lim-5), and their Polish-developed variants: trainer SBLim-1 and 2 and an attack plane Lim-6. The first Lim-1s were manufactured of Soviet parts in 1952, a full-scale production started in 1953. About 1500 Lims were built by 1964. In 1957-1960 there were also produced 250 Polish-designed piston trainers TS-8 Bies. From 1963 there was produced Polish-designed jet trainer TS-11 Iskra, being a basic trainer in the Polish military aviation. Its successor, designed with a part of PZL Mielec, the PZL I-22 Iryda
PZL I-22 Iryda
-See also:...
, appeared however a failure for different reasons, mostly lack of proper funding, and only a small series was built.
The most numerous plane built in Mielec was the licensed Soviet Antonov An-2
Antonov An-2
The Antonov An-2 is a single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed in the USSR in 1946...
utility biplane, produced from 1960 in different variants. Over 13,000 of these aircraft were manufactured by 1991, mostly for the Soviets, but also used in Poland and exported to other countries. From 1984 PZL Mielec became an exclusive producer of the Soviet STOL transport plane Antonov An-28
Antonov An-28
|-See also:-External links:**...
. It was subsequently developed in Mielec and in a modernized variant PZL M-28 Skytruck/Bryza, with Western avionics, is offered for the Polish Army, Polish Navy and services abroad, with some success, also as a maritime patrol aircraft.
Apart from a licence production, several aircraft were designed in Mielec in 1950s and 1960s, but they did not enter production (PZL S-4 Kania
PZL S-4 Kania
The PZL S-4 Kania was a Polish trainer and glider towing aircraft of 1950s, not built in series. The first prototype was designated S-3 Kania. There is also a helicopter named PZL Kania.-Design and development:...
, PZL M-2
PZL M-2
-See also:-References:*Janusz Babiejczuk, Jerzy Grzegorzewski: Polski przemysł lotniczy 1945-1973, Warsaw 1973 * Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1961–62. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1961.** -External links:*...
, PZL M-4 Tarpan
PZL M-4 Tarpan
-References:*Janusz Babiejczuk, Jerzy Grzegorzewski: Polski przemysł lotniczy 1945-1973, Warsaw 1973 *Marian Krzyżan: Samoloty w muzeach polskich, WKiŁ, Warsaw 1983, ISBN 83-206-0432-X...
). More profitable appeared a cooperation in designing. In 1973, with the Soviet help, there was designed the only jet agricultural aircraft in the world, the WSK-Mielec M-15 Belphegor
WSK-Mielec M-15 Belphegor
The Mielec M-15 was a jet agricultural aircraft, manufactured by PZL Mielec in Poland for the USSR agricultural aviation. It was the only jet biplane and only jet agricultural plane in the world...
, built in 1976-1981 for the Soviet order. On the other hand, the factory started cooperation with the American firms and the result was a very successful agricultural aircraft M-18 Dromader, first flown in 1976 and produced and developed until now (as of 2007). Over 740 were produced, most exported to Western countries. WSK-Mielec also started production of the PZL M-20 Mewa
PZL M-20 Mewa
|-See also:-References:* -External links:*...
utility plane (licensed Piper Seneca), but a small number was built only. Partly basing on the M-20 the factory developed a successful light trainer PZL M-26 Iskierka
PZL M-26 Iskierka
-See also:-References:*Krzysztof Piwek, Wiesław Tomecki: Samolot M26 Iskierka in: * Lambert, Mark Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993-94. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Data Division, 1993. ISBN 0-7106-1066-1.-External links:*...
of 1988.
Non-aviation production
The factory produced also non-aviation items, like fire engines (1948), refrigeratorRefrigerator
A refrigerator is a common household appliance that consists of a thermally insulated compartment and a heat pump that transfers heat from the inside of the fridge to its external environment so that the inside of the fridge is cooled to a temperature below the ambient temperature of the room...
s (1954–1966), Mikrus MR-300
Mikrus MR-300
The Mikrus MR-300 was a Polish microcar produced between 1957 - 1960 with a body built by WSK Mielec and engines by WSK Rzeszów. Only 1,728 units were built.- Model history :...
small car (1956–1960, 1728 built), refrigerator car bodies (1962–1974), TV broadcast cars (from 1965), fuel injection equipment (from 1964), Leyland-licence diesel engines (from 1967), Melex
Melex
Melex is an electric vehicle produced by a company of the same name in Mielec, Poland. It has been in production since 1971.The car, having full necessary equipment such as headlamps and seatbelts, is very quiet and does not pollute the environment, so it is usually used in places where standard...
electric utility vehicles and golf carts (from 1970, mostly for export to the USA, later separated as own brand). In 1993 a division Wytwórnia Aparatury Wtryskowej "PZL Mielec" (Fuel Injection Equipment Factory "PZL–Mielec") was separated as a limited liability company
Limited liability company
A limited liability company is a flexible form of enterprise that blends elements of partnership and corporate structures. It is a legal form of company that provides limited liability to its owners in the vast majority of United States jurisdictions...
.
Present and future
In October 1998, a state factory WSK "PZL-Mielec" was converted into a state-owned companyCompany
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
Polskie Zakłady Lotnicze Sp.z o.o.
Limited liability company
A limited liability company is a flexible form of enterprise that blends elements of partnership and corporate structures. It is a legal form of company that provides limited liability to its owners in the vast majority of United States jurisdictions...
(Polish Aviation Works), in short: PZL Mielec (not to confuse with pre-war PZL
PZL
PZL was the main Polish aerospace manufacturer of the interwar period, based in Warsaw, functioning in 1928-1939...
- Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze).
On March 16, 2007 the PZL Mielec was acquired by the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, a unit of United Technologies Corporation
United Technologies Corporation
United Technologies Corporation is an American multinational conglomerate headquartered in the United Technologies Building in Hartford, Connecticut...
(UTX). Among other things, PZL Mielec will serve as an additional final assembly line for the parent firm's S-70 Blackhawk
Sikorsky S-70
The Sikorsky S-70 is a medium transport/utility helicopter family manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. It was developed for the U.S. Army in the 1970s, winning a competition to be designated the UH-60 Blackhawk and spawning a large family in U.S. military service...
helicopter.
A circumstances of this transaction (without auction) and its aftermath were heavily criticized by the Polish military press, suggesting, that the price was bargain (56.1 millions PLN), due to pro-American lobbying. It was also pointed out, that the Polish military agreed in December 2008 to buy from new factory owners 12 unnecessary aircraft M-28B, for a price two or three times higher, than their real value and their export price.
List of aircraft
More important aircraft manufactured or designed in Mielec. A date of first prototype flight / serial production start is given ("-" for not flown or not produced aircraft).| LWD Szpak LWD Szpak -References:*Babiejczuk, Janusz and Grzegorzewski, Jerzy: Polski przemysł lotniczy 1945-1973 , Wydawnictwo MON, Warsaw 1974 *Krzyżan, Marian: Samoloty w muzeach polskich, Warsaw 1983, ISBN 83-206-0432... -4T |
1-engine, utility / touring low-wing, 1945/1948 |
| CSS-13 | 1-engine, multirole biplane, 1948 (licensed Polikarpov Po-2 Polikarpov Po-2 The Polikarpov Po-2 served as a general-purpose Soviet biplane, nicknamed Kukuruznik for maize; thus, 'maize duster' or 'crop duster'), NATO reporting name "Mule"... ) |
| TS-8 Bies | 1-engine, military trainer low-wing, 1955/1957 |
| M-4 Tarpan | 1-engine, trainer low-wing prototype, 1961/- |
| An-2 | 1-engine, transport and multirole biplane, 1960 (licensed Antonov An-2 Antonov An-2 The Antonov An-2 is a single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed in the USSR in 1946... ) |
| Lim-1 | 1-jet engine, fighter, 1953 (licensed MiG-15) |
| Lim-2 | 1-jet engine, fighter, 1954 (licensed MiG-15bis) |
| SBLim-1/SBLim-2 | 1-jet engine, trainer (Lim-1/2 variant) |
| Lim-5 | 1-jet engine, fighter, 1956 (licensed MiG-17) |
| Lim-6 | 1-jet engine, attack plane, 1961 (Lim-5 variant) |
| PZL TS-11 Iskra PZL TS-11 Iskra |-See also:-References:*"Poland's Veteran Spark". Air International, March 1979, Vol 16 No. 3. Bromley, UK:Fine Scroll Publishing. pp. 126–131.... |
1-jet engine, military trainer, mid-wing, 1960/1963 |
| M-15 Belphegor WSK-Mielec M-15 Belphegor The Mielec M-15 was a jet agricultural aircraft, manufactured by PZL Mielec in Poland for the USSR agricultural aviation. It was the only jet biplane and only jet agricultural plane in the world... |
1-jet engine, agricultural biplane, 1973/1976 |
| M-18 Dromader PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader |-See also:-References:*Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.... |
1-engine, agricultural low-wing, 1976/1978 |
| M-20 Mewa PZL M-20 Mewa |-See also:-References:* -External links:*... |
2-engine, multirole low-wing, 1979/1989 (licence Piper Seneca) |
| M-21 Dromader Mini PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader |-See also:-References:*Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.... |
1-engine, agricultural low-wing, 1987/- |
| PZL M-24 Dromader Super PZL M-24 Dromader Super The M-24 Dromader Super is a single engine agricultural aircraft, developed in the 1980s by the WSK-Mielec from the PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader. It remained a prototype.-Development:... |
1-engine, agricultural low-wing, 1987/- |
| M-25 Dromader Mikro PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader |-See also:-References:*Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.... |
1-engine, agricultural low-wing, -/- |
| M-26 Iskierka PZL M-26 Iskierka -See also:-References:*Krzysztof Piwek, Wiesław Tomecki: Samolot M26 Iskierka in: * Lambert, Mark Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993-94. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Data Division, 1993. ISBN 0-7106-1066-1.-External links:*... |
1-engine, trainer low-wing, 1986/? |
| PZL M-28 Skytruck / Bryza | 2-turboprop engine, light transport / military high-wing, 1984 (developed Antonov An-28 Antonov An-28 |-See also:-External links:**... ) |
| PZL I-22 Iryda PZL I-22 Iryda -See also:... |
2-jet engine, military trainer, high-wing, 1985/1992 (small series built) |
| S-70i Blackhawk Sikorsky S-70 The Sikorsky S-70 is a medium transport/utility helicopter family manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. It was developed for the U.S. Army in the 1970s, winning a competition to be designated the UH-60 Blackhawk and spawning a large family in U.S. military service... |
Medium-duty utility helicopter |