PZL-Świdnik

PZL-ŚWIDNIK S.A
Manufacturer
Industry Aviation
Founded 1951
Headquarters Świdnik, Poland
Key people
 CEO Mieczysław Majewski
Products Military and Civil Helicopters
Parent AgustaWestland
Website www.pzl.swidnik.pl
PZL W-3 Gluszec (upgraded) of Polish Land Forces
PZL SW-4 of Polish Air Force
WSK M06B3 motorcycle

PZL Świdnik S.A (Wytwórnia Sprzętu Komunikacyjnego PZL-Świdnik S.A.) is the biggest helicopter manufacturer in Poland. Its main products are PZL W-3 Sokół and PZL SW-4 Puszczyk helicopters. In early 2010 the factory was acquired by AgustaWestland[1] (since 2015 became part of Leonardo-Finmeccanica’s Helicopter Division).[2]


History

History of plant establishment dating back to 1920, when in Lublin opened the first aircraft factory "Plage i Laśkiewicz". After World War II part of the senior instructors staff incorporated into the newly formed "Wytwórnia Sprzętu Komunikacyjnego".[3] In 1951 a third national aerospace factory, WSK-Świdnik, was built in Świdnik, and in 1957 it was renamed to WSK PZL-Świdnik. Since 1956 it has become one of the world's major helicopter manufacturers, producing helicopters under the Soviet licence, starting with the SM-1 (Mil Mi-1). Świdnik was the main producer of the Mi-1 and exclusive producer of the widely used in the world Mil Mi-2. Since the late 1980s, Świdnik has been producing a Polish-designed medium helicopter PZL W-3 Sokół. It also produces a light helicopter, the PZL SW-4 Puszczyk. After 1991 the state factory became a state-owned corporation (WSK "PZL-Świdnik" SA). It also produced the Pirat, PW-5 and PW-6 gliders and cooperates widely with other nations' manufacturers, e.g., in the manufacture of Agusta A109 fuselages.

From 1954 until 1980 the WSK PZL-Świdnik was also a manufacturer of motorcycles, branded as the WSK. Some 2,000,000 of motorcycles of the WSK M06 125 cc and WSK M21 175 cc families were made in that period.[4]

In early 2010 the factory was acquired by AgustaWestland.

Products

PZL Kania of the Polish Police

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gazeta Wyborcza article from Feb. 2, 2010
  2. ↑ "Finmeccanica board approves new structure". ft.com. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  3. ↑ http://oldtimery.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=669:zakady-mechaniczne-e-plage-i-t-lakiewicz-w-lublinie&catid=18:stare-samochody&Itemid=705
  4. ↑ (Polish) Adam Zakrzewski, Auto-moto PRL: władcy dróg i poboczy, Demart, Warsaw 2010, ISBN 978-83-7427-484-5, p.158
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