PZL-130 Orlik
PZL · Poland · first flew 1984 · transport aircraft
The PZL-130 Orlik (Eagle) is a Polish single-engine turboprop trainer designed to replace ageing Soviet-era jets in the Polish Air Force primary and advanced training pipeline.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboprop, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Polish military basic and advanced trainer
- Tandem two-seat turboprop trainer
- Low-wing monoplane with stepped tandem cockpit and bubble canopy
Clean low-wing monoplane with a large bubble canopy over tandem seats, single turboprop engine, and retractable tricycle undercarriage; resembles Western turboprop trainers like the PC-9 in general layout.
Specifications
- The PZL-130 Orlik has a length of 9 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 480 km/h (298 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 (tandem).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Development began in the early 1980s and the prototype flew in 1984 with a piston engine; series production aircraft switched to turboprop powerplants. The Orlik TC-II with the Walter M601T engine entered Polish Air Force service in the 1990s and has been continuously upgraded.
Variants
Orlik TC-I (piston), TC-II (Walter turboprop), TC-IIIA with more powerful PZL-10W engine; export interest shown but primary customer remains Poland.
Where you'll see it
Serves with the Polish Air Force as a basic and advanced trainer; used for aerobatic display flying by the Polish aerobatic team.
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