PZL-Swidnik W-3 Sokol

PZL-Swidnik · Poland · first flew 1979 · helicopter

The W-3 Sokol (Falcon) is a medium twin-turboshaft utility helicopter, the first entirely Polish-designed rotorcraft, used for transport, SAR, medevac and armed roles.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, rotary
E — Engines	2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	14.21 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

First all-Polish twin-turbine helicopter
Four-blade main rotor and three-blade tail rotor
Sliding cabin doors and stalky wheeled gear

Look for a four-blade main rotor over a fairly slim fuselage, a three-blade tail rotor and stalky sponson-mounted wheeled undercarriage. Large sliding cabin doors and a rounded nose complete the profile.

Specifications

The PZL-Swidnik W-3 Sokol has a length of 14.21 m (47 ft).
It has a wingspan of 15.7 m (52 ft).
Its maximum speed is 260 km/h (162 mph).
Typical crew: 2 pilots, up to 12 passengers.

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

History

PZL-Swidnik flew the Sokol in 1979 after long experience building Mil designs under licence, aiming for an indigenous multirole helicopter. Powered by twin PZL turboshafts, it entered service through the 1980s and 1990s.

Variants

The line includes the baseline W-3, the search-and-rescue W-3RM Anakonda, the armed W-3W/WA Sokol and the upgraded Glass-cockpit W-3PL Gluszec. It has been exported to several countries in addition to Polish service.

Where you'll see it

The Sokol has no UK military role, British medium-lift being covered by the Puma, Merlin and Wildcat, but it is a core type for the Polish armed forces and border services. It remains a widely used Central European utility helicopter.

Related aircraft

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