PZL-104 Wilga
PZL Warszawa-Okęcie · Poland · first flew 1962 · glider
Poland's charmingly ungainly utility bird — a STOL workhorse beloved as a glider tug and para-drop platform.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.1 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Gawky high-wing with long-stroke stalky undercarriage
- Radial engine and glazed, bulged cabin
- Classic glider-tug profile
Nothing else looks so deliberately awkward: a pod-like glazed cabin, high strutted wing, immensely long-travel undercarriage legs splayed forward, and a radial cowl. It appears to be squatting even in flight.
Specifications
- The PZL-104 Wilga has a length of 8.1 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.12 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 195 km/h (121 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 pilot + 3 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1962, the Wilga ('oriole') was designed for aeroclub duty: towing gliders, dropping parachutists and hopping from rough fields. Around 1,000 were built across three decades.
Variants
The Wilga 35 and 80 with the round AI-14 radial are classic; the later Wilga 2000 substituted a Lycoming flat engine and modern panel.
Where you'll see it
A familiar tug at some UK gliding clubs over the years and a regular at vintage fly-ins — its slow-turning radial thump and hunched stance are unmistakable.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.