PZL-104M Wilga 2000

EADS PZL Warszawa-Okecie · Poland · first flew 1996 · glider

The Wilga 2000 is a rugged Polish STOL utility lightplane, an updated version of the long-running PZL-104 Wilga fitted with a Lycoming engine and a modernised airframe for glider-towing, parachuting and bush work.

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:

High-set braced wing with STOL slats
Bulged glazed cabin for downward view
Sprung, long-legged fixed taildragger stance

Look for the tall, long-legged taildragger stance, a strut-braced high wing and a heavily glazed cabin that bulges outward for downward visibility. The pugnacious, insect-like profile is unmistakable.

Specifications

The PZL-104M Wilga 2000 has a length of 8.1 m (27 ft).
It has a wingspan of 11.12 m (36 ft).
Its maximum speed is 211 km/h (131 mph).
Typical crew: 1 pilot, 3 passengers.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The original Wilga dates from the early 1960s, and the Wilga 2000 of the mid-1990s re-engined it with a 300 hp Lycoming and revised systems to broaden its export appeal. Its short-field prowess made it a favourite for aero clubs and utility operators.

Variants

Successive Wilga marks served agricultural, glider-tug and observation roles across the Eastern Bloc, with the Wilga 2000 representing the final Western-engined evolution. Production totalled several hundred across all versions.

Where you'll see it

The type has appeared on the UK civil register as a glider-tug and parachute aircraft, though it is a niche machine here. It is best known as a distinctive club-aviation workhorse rather than a military type.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.