PZL SW4
 

Has anybody seen/heard/flown one of these? I'm starting to get itchy feet and fancy something a bit different from my current steed.

I know there was one at Helitech last year (wish I'd gone) and I'd heard they were looking for a UK distributor, and were chasing EASA certification. But since then, news has gone a bit cold.

It's just a muse at the mo, but I think it looks like a first-rate machine that will liven up the market, though I'd be a bit nervous about buying the A model (you know the old saying....)

Fast Helicopters were showing a lot of interest - perhaps you could ask them or they could post here? Certainly the demonstrator from Helitech spent some days at each of their Shoreham and Thruxton bases.

SW4
 

I can arrange information for you on the SW4 if you require it, it is a truly fantastic helicopter that is going to be the next 206, and believe me this is coming from the worlds greatest fan of the 206 (I own four of them). You dont need to have fears over buying the A as they are already way ahead of that:ok:

I flew the SW-4 in Poland several years ago, and had some very long talks with the Polish engineers about things that needed to be fixed in order to sell it in the West. I never did hear if they fixed them- things like the throttle in the roof was going to be a non-starter for anyone doing training in the machine. I also noticed that there was no lateral baffles in the fuel tanks - when you rolled into a turn, several seconds later the nose would slice out of the turn.
And the certification was by no means complete - autorotations had not been completed at 7,000' DA from what I could see.
An update would be appreciated.

guys

can you show us all this machine .
i,am also a 206 owner and would like to have a look at something a bit different.

cs

That is what I found on the factory web page:
http://www.pzl.swidnik.pl/AN2000/04_..._p_sw4opis.htm
Tomasz

SW4 Hawk
 

As many of you may of seen, I have posted various bits of information on the SW4, I have just returned from Poland where I had 2 hours flying on the latest production model, with a fairly free hand. I must report that it is so much improved in all areas. I also saw our demonstrator almost complete, it is about 5 weeks off completion. If any one would like further information on the helicopter I would be happy to help, or if you would like to book trial flights in our demonstrator.:ok:

Out of curiosity, are they any closer to type certification? Or is this a permit-only aircraft for now?

SW-4 have full EASA :ok:

from 28 Sep 2007.

TC_Data_Sheet_EASA_TCDS.R.100.pdf
TC_EASA_R_100.pdf

To interested prospective buyers
can send EASA approved
SW 4 Rotorcraft Flight Manual
drop me PM pls

I'd be interested in some info and taking a look

Joel
www.jetbox.wordpress.com

I am sure long_box will contact You....

BTW once have sent him some messages with no success, in case he not
please send me PM :ok:

Thanks for the RFM.

Man, that H-V diagram looks scary, just compared it with Bell 206-III, and the SW-4 shaded area is 4 times larger, what gives ?

Hi Guys,

Glad to see some interest in this great helicopter, I had a look on your web site JT, looks very good, please send me a PM and I will contact you with some info and numbers etc. I am moving into a purpose built showroom in five weeks, from where the Hawk will be sold, its a private site, glass fronted etc, will post some pics later today. There will be a UK launch, so any intersted parties will be very welcome:ok:

I am very interested in light helicopter
 

Hi, allI am edward, chinese. How nice to have chance to communicate with you.I am very interested in light helicopter, such as SW-4, EC120, AS350, 206, 480 and so on.My email is [email protected].

Need info
 

Hi All! My name is Alex and I'm from Moscow. I need something negative information about this helicopter.
Thank you
P.S. Sorry for my English))

I don't like the colours...

Thats all?))) I need more info about this, may be it has some lacks?

Thank you.

Yes. that's all. If you are looking for some material for bashing on a Polish product,
then you'll probably have to look somewhere else.

It happened many times before, that some journos signed in for PPRuNe
to use the information gathered here for some actions against aviation.

If you need information, just check here:

PZL-?WIDNIK S.A.

Ok! Thank's for information.

Apologize if this has been mentioned already. This is from the Finmeccanica webpage



AgustaWestland acquires helicopters and aerostructures manufacturer PZLSwidnik


AgustaWestland today signed an agreement to purchase 87.61% of PZLSwidnik, a Polish company which produces helicopters and aerostructures, for a sum of PLN 329 million. This stake comes in addition to the 6.2% already owned by AgustaWestland. The acquisition, which comes after the privatisation process launched by the Polish treasury's industrial development agency, is subject to antitrust approval, and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

This is a strategic move for Finmeccanica, since the acquisition of PZL-Swidnik will enable AgustaWestland to strengthen its leadership, expand its operations in Europe and increase its competitiveness, all thanks to PZL's many years' experience in the field of helicopter aerostructures, especially fuselages, which the company produces for five AgustaWestland helicopters.

Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, Chairman and CEO of Finmeccanica, commented: "the merger of PZLSwidnik into AgustaWestland should generate significant opportunities for the group in the helicopter sector, not only because of PZL's expertise in aerostructures, but also because of the access the merger will give to new geographical markets and because PZL and AgustaWestland products are
highly complementary".

old news....and probably end of one of famous aviation names
with approx 7.000 units total helicopter produced :sad:

All,

Just back from Helitech where they had a PZL SW4 on the stand. I think it looks fantastic. I have some info and photos of it which I will be putting on my blog later on.

Joel:ok:

Good news that they finally delivered one with approx 10 months delay:}

A link would be nice...

9Aplus,
I think It was a manufacturer owned machine.

Arrakis

Standby..................

I noticed that Rotorhub's attempt to hype-up this year's Helitech included a reference to this being "...the first time a military SW-4 has visited the UK."

I thought the only difference between the Siły Powietrzne RP's trainer SW-4s and civvy SW-4s was the paint job...? :E

I/C

There is bit more than paint.....
will add some pictures after JT to explain

Here you go folks.......

Helitech 2009 – PZL SW4

Joel:ok:

Tnx Tobias, nice work

Quote of the decade>
To see some "paint" difference, photos taken in PZL Swidnik Mar 2008.
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/IMG_2827.jpg
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/IMG_2826.jpg

Looks nice

Joel:ok:

JTobias and 9Aplus, :ok:

The leather inside looks nice. It's SP-SWV - c/n 600321.

Arrakis

Throttle still in the roof or did they move it to the collective?

Yellow one up there......

Took a peek at the SW4 at Helitech today - very nice machine! It's a shame they didn't exhibit a civvy version but even in basic trim, the 'purpose built' design of the SW4 wins hands down over the R66 in my book. If however, €1.1m is the price (appx. £951k today), then it's head on with a very good used AS350 or 50% more than a good used EC120 and 120% more than a top end used 206. I'm not sure I'd want to spend almost a million squids on one (even if I could!).

It'll be interesting to see where Frank positions the R66's price with the SW4 out there...


http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t...y/IMG_0001.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t...y/IMG_0002.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t...y/IMG_0004.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t...y/IMG_0005.jpg

only in best dreams, exhibited machine is over €1.6m
and
Above civil one not less than €1.25 m

Helicopter is real jewel, but production schedule, after sale support and business behavior of PZL Swidnik is night mare. :}

Are you sure about it?

Arrakis

Soooooo...not only do you have to remove your hand from the collective to get at the throttle, but you have to switch *cyclic* hands as well!

Ah, progress.

Was it impossible for them to set the ship up for a right-side pilot? Or would that have made the ship to be too "Astar-ish?"

I doubt the SW-4 is even on Frank's radar; he'll be more focused on the 434, 480 and - most of all - used 206s.

Shame the SW-4 never got the 650shp PW200 that was originally planned for it. Some glass would also help. We'll have to see whether Cascina Costa sees any value in retaining it as a smaller sibling to the Koala.

I/C

:sad: yes, ARRAKIS....

Cachina Costa is looking for cheap airframes for AW109, AW139
and place for AW101 final assembly (Polish military contract order)
W3A is on dead end thanks to that
SW5 project have no future
and SW4, taking bets....:suspect:

€1.25 m ???

A brand new EC-120B can be had for that price. I know which I would prefer.