The design of the PZL W-3 Sokol combat helicopter was based on the inputs from the Polish Air Brigade's combat operations in Iraq.
The development was complemented by the Polish Armed Forces and the Polish defence industry.
PZL W-3 Sokol is also offered in transport, cargo-lifter, police, VIP, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), emergency medical services (EMS), SAR-mountain, and SAR-sea variants.
The helicopter received type certificates from the Aviation Authorities of Poland, Russia, US, Germany and Spain according to the FAR Part 29 airworthiness standards.
Development
The W-3 Sokół ('Falcon') is the first helicopter to be fully designed and serial-built in Poland.
Work on the project was started at WSK PZL Świdnik in 1973 by the team of Stanisław Kamiński. The Sokół made its first flight on 16 November 1979, and has since been certificated in Poland, Russia, the US and Germany. It was designed to meet the demands of a military and civilian aviation of the Soviet Union, which was planned to be its major user. Following a development program, low rate production of the Sokół commenced during 1985. Certification to US FAR Pt 29 standards was granted in May 1993, while German certification was granted in December of that year.
The Sokół is of conventional design and construction, with two PZL-10W turboshaft engines, which are based on the PZL-10S - licensed Russian designed TVD-10B turboprops that power the Polish-built An-28. Composites are used in the three-bladed tail and four-bladed main rotors.
The Sokół is offered in a number of variants and is capable of performing a typical range of helicopter missions, including passenger transport, VIP, cargo, EMS, medevac, firefighting and search and rescue.
The 100th Sokół was completed in June 1996, one of the most recent version is the W-3PL Gluszec.
Design
W-3 Sokol incorporates a conventional design based on the pod and boom layout. The fuselage is of Duralumin construction, while rotor blades and stabiliser are made of laminated glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP).
The helicopter can house two crew and up to 12 passengers. Both sides of the flight deck has a door with a bulged window. Two large sliding doors, one at the forward end of cabin on the port side and another at the rear of cabin on the starboard side, allow the loading and unloading of cargo and passengers.
The helicopter is fitted with a wide range of equipment and systems such as a rescue hoist, cargo hook, engine air particle separator (EAPS) system, rappelling system and a wire strike protection system.
Sokol has a length of 18.79m, width of 1.75m and a height of 4.2m. The diameter of the main rotor is 15.7m. The helicopter can carry a maximum useful load of 2,550kg.
The cockpit can accommodate two crew members, including a pilot and co-pilot or flight engineer. The night vision goggle (NVG)-compatible cockpit is equipped with Bendix/King avionics suite integrating multifunction displays, head-up display (HUD) and a four-axis autopilot system.
The navigation and communications systems include a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) system, Chrom IFF transponder, laser range finder, inertial navigation system / global positioning system (INS/GPS), digital map, tactical air navigation system, VHF omni-directional radio range (VOR), and instrument landing system (ILS).
Armament
W-3 combat helicopters are armed with starboard-mounted GSh-23 23mm double-barrelled aircraft gun, a 12.7mm turret machine gun, Mars-2 rocket launchers, ZR-8 sub-munition dispensers and Platan mine laying systems.
Engines
W-3 Sokol is powered by two WSK PZL-Rzeszow PZL-10W turboshaft engines. Each engine delivers a maximum take-off power of 662kW and maximum continuous power for 574kW. The Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system monitors and controls the operating parameters of the engines.
The power plant also integrates an advanced electronic fuel control system.
Performance
The W-3 Sokol can fly at a maximum altitude of 4,520m. It can climb at a rate of 8.5m/sec. The helicopter has a maximum cruise speed of 235km/h, while the auxiliary fuel tank fitted to the Sokol provides a maximum range of 1,180km. The helicopter has a maximum endurance of over four hours.
Landing gear
The Sokol is equipped with non-retractable tricycle type landing gear system. The system consists of twin-wheel self-centring nose unit and two single-wheel main units. Each unit is equipped with oleo-pneumatic shock-absorber. The main wheel units are fitted with pneumatic disc brakes.
Variants
Civil versions
W-3 Sokół
Basic civil multi-purpose version, 30 built (excluding prototypes).
W-3A Sokół
Version with FAR-29 certificate. At least 9 civil helicopters built.
W-3 airframe converted to W-3A standard, 22 converted.
W-3A2 Sokół
Version with two-axis Smith SN 350 autopilot, one built.
W-3AM Sokół
Civil version with floats, 13 built.
W-3 Erka
Ambulance variant, one built in 1988
Military versions
Basic (unarmed) transport/passenger variant used by Polish Air Force (6), Navy (2) and Myanmar Air Force (13, inc. two for VIP).
W-3A Sokół
Military transport variant of the W-3A version used by Czech and Philippine Air Force. Some of the Czech helicopters were modified for the emergency medical services. Filipino examples can carry M60 machine gun on each side. Iraqi Air Force returned two VIP-configured Sokół to the intermediary company after cancelling the order.
VIP transport version used by Polish Air Force. Eight built.
Armed version, with twin 23 mm GSz-23Ł cannon and four pylons for weapons used by Polish Land Forces. W-3WA is a variant with FAR-29 certificate. 34 built.
W-3AE Sokół
Medical evacuation version used by Polish Land Forces (AE for "Aero Ewakuacja"). Three W-3WA upgraded.
Medical evacuation version used by Polish Air Force. Two built.
W-3RL Sokół
Land search and rescue version used by Polish Air Force. Six built.
W-3RM / W-3WARM Anakonda
"Anakonda" (en: "Anaconda") Navalized search and rescue version used by Polish Navy. W-3WARM is a variant with FAR-29 certificate. Eight built.
"Gipsówka" (en: "Gypsophila") W-3PPD was a flying command centre variant (PPD stands for "Powietrzny Punkt Dowodzenia" - "Airborne Command Post"). In 2006 this variant received new digital battlefield (after modernization helicopter is able to guide artillery equipped with Topaz fire control system) and observation systems and was adopted by Polish Land Forces Aviation under new name W-3PSOT (PSOT stands for "Powietrzne Stanowisko Obserwacji Terenu" - "Airborne Observation Post"). This variant is equipped with pylons for weapons (same like in W-3W) but has no 23 mm fixed cannon. One built.
"Procjon" (en: "Procyon") is a radioelectronic reconnaissance version (RR stands for "Rozpoznanie Radioelektroniczne" - "Radioelectronic Reconnaissance"). Three built.
"Głuszec" (en: "Capercaillie") is a PZL W-3WA upgrade program to bring armed variant of Sokół up to 21st century standards by including advanced avionic systems (in Glass cockpit configuration) and other changes like FADEC-equipped engines. Avionics include two 10″ MFD displays, single tactical display (maps and Elbit Toplite FLIR), INS/GPS, TACAN, VOR/ILS, DME navigation, HUD, IFF, PNL-3 night vision goggles, HOCAS (Hands on Colective and Stick) control, infrared and radar warning receiver, MIL-STD-1553B data link. Twin 23 mm cannon was replaced by single pilot's controlled 12,7 mm WKM-Bz machine gun with 350 rounds. Designed for Combat Search and Rescue duties. The first prototype (s/n: 360901) was tested by the Land Forces aviation in 2009. Eight W-3WA are to be upgraded.
Prototypes and proposals
Prototypes and proposals that were not adopted by armed forces.
W-3B Jastrząb
Proposed armed version with tandem-seat cabin and guided AT rockets.
W-3K/W-3WB Huzar
Proposed armed version with guided ZT3 Ingwe ATGM, FLIR and 20 mm GA-1 cannon with helmet-mounted sight. Modification by Kentron (Denel) company in 1993 tested in South Africa. Some elements like hardpoint were used in serial W-3W/W-3WA variant. One built.
W-3L Sokół Long
Proposed stretched version seating up to 14 passengers, mockup only.
W-3MS/W-3WS Sokół
Proposed gunship version.
W-3U Salamandra
Armed version, with avionics and armament from Mi-24W. Only one built, later converted into transport variant and sold to Myanmar.
W-3U-1 Aligator
Proposed anti-submarine version.
Proposed navalised version of W-3PL with folding rotor, radar, dipping sonar, air-to-surface missiles and torpedoes.
Specifications (W-3A)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Capacity: 12 passengers or four stretcher cases and one attendant
Payload: 2,100 kg (4,630 lb)
Length: 14.21 m[23] (46 ft 7½ in)
Rotor diameter: 15.70 m (51 ft 6 in)
Height: 5.14 m (16 ft 9½ in)
Disc area: 193.6 m² (2,084 ft²)
Airfoil: NACA 23012M
Empty weight: 3,850 kg (8,488 lb)
Useful load: 2,550 kg (5,621 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 6,400 kg (14,110 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Rzeszów PZL-10B turboshaft, 671 kW (900 shp) each
Performance
Never exceed speed: 260 km/h
Cruise speed: 238 km/h (129 knots, 148 mph)
Range: 745 km (402 nmi, 463 mi)
Ferry range: 1,224 km (671 nmi, 773 mi)
Service ceiling: 4,910 m (16,100 ft)
Rate of climb: 9.3 m/s (1,831 ft/min)