| SW-4 / AW009 | |
|---|---|
 SW-4 with thePolish Air Force | |
| General information | |
| Type | Multipurposeutility helicopter |
| National origin | Poland |
| Manufacturer | PZL-Świdnik |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | Polish Armed Forces |
| Number built | 40[1] |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1996-Present |
| Introduction date | 2002 |
| First flight | 29 October 1996 |
ThePZL SW-4 Puszczyk (en:tawny owl) is a Polish light single-engine multipurposehelicopter manufactured byPZL-Świdnik. Following a protracted development, the SW-4 entered service in 2002, the primary operator of the type has been thePolish Armed Forces. The SW-4 was further developed by PZL-Świdnik and corporate parentAgustaWestland into anoptionally piloted vehicle, theSW-4 Solo. From 2016 onwards, the type has been marketed to civil operators as theAW009, while the SW-4 designation is used for the military market.[2]
The design of the SW-4 helicopter originates from the 1960s, during which period it was decided against proceeding to production with the SW-4 due to demand for military helicopters from various nations within theWarsaw Pact.[3] Around 1981, development work at PZL-Swidnik was started on a new four/five place light utility helicopter.[4] The original design for the SW-4 called for it to be powered by a 300 kW (400shp) PZL Rzeszow GTD350turboshaft engine, as featured upon the prototype mockup. According to PZL-Swidnik, the early SW-4 could reach the rated top speed of about 240 km/h (130kn) and a max range with auxiliary fuel tank about 900 km (485 nmi).[4]
Following the collapse of theSoviet Union and the subsequent European restructuring, predominantly those countries that had formerly been members of the Warsaw Pact, the emerging political climate had allowed PZL-Swidnik to redesign the SW-4 to make use of a new foreign-built powerplant, the Allison (now Rolls-Royce) Model 250 turboshaft engine, which was 13% more powerful while consuming 30% less fuel than the originally-intended GTD350 powerplant.[4] Other changes were made to the design, which ultimately bore little resemblance to its earlier form.[4] In 1995, the SW-4 project was formally re-launched and, in addition to the switch of power plant, the rotorcraft's design was substantially modified. Design alternations include the adoption of epoxy resin-based composite materials for the fuselage structure, further streamlining of the fuselage, and a revised tail and tail boom made primarily of aluminium.[3]
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In December 1994, the project had proceeded to ground testing of a non-flying prototype. Subsequently, a pair of flight-capable prototypes were assembled to support the development program.[3] The first prototype was planned to perform an initial flight in January 1995, however this was delayed due to vibration issues during engine runs.[4] On 26 October 1996, the SW-4 was reported as having performing its first flight; an official first flight was conducted on 29 October 1996.[4][5] By May 2002, the two prototypes had accumulated a total of 640 flight hours.[3] PZL-Swidnik targeted USFederal Aviation Administration (FAA) FAR Part 27 certification for the SW-4.[4] it was believed that the program should be capable of producing production models by 1999.[citation needed]
A decision to redesign the main rotor head resulted in considerable delays to the flight testing program; during this time, other changes were made to the rotorcraft, included the horizontal stabilizer being extended and improvements of the hydraulic systems.[citation needed] In 2002, the first production model SW-4, which was equipped with the Rolls-Royce engine, was approaching receipt of certification from the Polish civil aviation authority.[3] Certification for use in other markets is to be made upon customer request, targeting a $700,000 price at the time.[3] On 1 October 2002, serial production of the SW-4 formally began.[6] On 27 September 2007, type certification from theEuropean Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) was received.[7] Following on from the certification of the Rolls-Royce model, PZL Swidnik pursued a separate re-certification for a modified SW-4 fitted with aPratt & Whitney Canada PW200 powerplant as an alternative option.[8]
The SW-4 as planned was expected to fulfill a range of utility missions ranging from civil and executive transport to Medevac, police, border patrol duties and some of military pilot training tasks; however, for several years the Polish military had served as the type's only customer. In Polish service, 24 SW-4, with a military name Puszczyk, has been used as a training rotorcraft, replacing theMil Mi-2, at "The Center of Aviation Education and Training at Dęblin" (Ośrodek Szkolenia Lotniczego w Dęblinie).[3][9][10]
In January 2004,Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) was in the process of negotiating a risk-sharing agreement to set up a local assembly line for the SW-4, dependent upon an order from theIndonesian National Police.[11]
In October 2005, PZL-Świdnik revealed that it was conducting talks withRolls-Royce over the prospective use of a more powerful variant of the SW-4'sModel 250C20R powerplant; at the same point, it was publicly acknowledged that the development of a stretched, twin-engine development of the SW-4 was under active consideration, and that this would be dependent upon export sales of the present model.[12] In February 2009, Rolls-Royce stated that it was holding talks with PZL-Świdnik on the prospective use of its newly developedRolls-Royce RR500 engine on future derivatives of the SW-4.[13]
PZL-Świdnik's parent company,AgustaWestland chose to use the SW-4 as the basis for an optionally manned rotorcraft, the PZL-Świdnik SW-4 Solo. In 2011, development of an optionally-manned demonstrator began.[14] The SW-4 Solo was first was shown at the MSPO 2012 in Poland as "SW-4 Solo" RUAS/OPH platform (Rotorcraft Unmanned Air System/Optionally Piloted Helicopter).[15][16] In 2013, AgustaWestland was given aRoyal Navy contract for the SW-4 Solo's development as part of the UK's RWUAS (Rotary Wing Unmanned Air System) Capability Concept Demonstrator (CCD) programme.[17] Development of the SW-4 Solo is also being supported by theItalian Ministry of Defence's Directorate for Air Armaments under the Italian National Military Research Plan.[18] By September 2015, the SW-4 Solo had performed a total of 26 demonstration flights, which included simulated shipboard integration tests.[19] In November 2015, AgustaWestland stated that the SW-4 Solo was "ready for sale".[20][21]
In 2006, PZL-Świdnik entered into an agreement with China's Jiujiang Hongying Technology Development Ltd. which aimed for the establishment of an SW4 assembly line inJiujiang, China. In December 2008, a type certification for the SW-4 was issued by theCivil Aviation Administration of China.[22] In late February 2010, the maiden flight of the first SW-4 to be co-produced in China took place;[23] in the same month, PZL Swidnik announced an agreement to produce 150 helicopters, an unspecified number of which being the SW-4, were to be produced for the Chinese market at Jiujiang.[24] By March 2015, a total of five co-produced SW-4s had been delivered to Chinese customers.[25]
In February 2016, an upgraded model of the SW-4 for the civil market, designated as theAW009, was revealed atHeli-Expo. Amongst the changes to this commercial variant include flight performance changes to provide for increased smoothness and greater control authority, the integration of a mass vibration absorber, the adoption of a Genesys Aerospaceglass cockpit common to the largerAgustaWestland AW119 Koala,hydraulic improvements, and an optional upgraded Model 250-C30R engine.[2][26]
The SW-4 is powered by a single 335 kW (450shp) (283 kW/380 shp max continuous rated)Rolls-Royce Model 250C20R/2turboshaft engine, which drives the rotorcraft's three-blade main rotor and two-blade tail rotor. An alternative engine is provided in the form of the 460 kW (615 shp)Pratt & Whitney Canada PW200/9 turboshaft engine. The main rotor is fully articulated and the rotor blades on both the main and tail rotors are composed of composite materials. The SW-4 uses hydraulic flight controls, the rotorcraft has been promoted as possessing excellent flight controls, and can be flown in both day and nightvisual flight rules conditions.[27]
The SW-4 is capable of transporting up to five people, including a pilot, in crashworthy seats; passengers are provided with a high level of external visibility and comfort, an optional vibration absorption system is also offered.[27] The main cabin can be rapidly reconfigured between passenger and cargo-carrying configurations and is accessed via two sliding doors on either side of the cabin, a dedicated baggage compartment is also present beneath the main cabin.[25] PZL- Świdnik stated that multi-role operations had been a high priority during the SW-4's development; and that the rotorcraft is well-suited to passenger transport, primary and advanced training, patrol and surveillance missions.[27]
Various optional equipment can be installed, such as removable co-pilot flight controls,wire strike protection system, aforward looking infrared (FLIR) sensor system,instrument flight rules (IFR) training fittings, radio altimeter, emergency medical system, moving map, external loudspeakers and/or search light, flotation gear, and an external cargo sling. Much of the external equipment is designed to be held on external extension arms; overall, the SW-4 can mount/carry a useful payload of up to nearly 600 kilograms.[25][27] Both basic and advanced trainer variants of the SW-4 have been developed to conform withNATO standards and military pilot training regulations, it is promoted as possessing a high level of inherent flight stability and safety; the advanced model is compatible withnight vision goggles (NVG) and is equipped with an emergency simulation unit.[27]
Military operators
Data from AgustaWestland[27]
General characteristics
Performance
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
