Photograph:
PZL Wilga 2000 VH-ZLD (c/n 00970002) at Bankstown, NSW in November 2006 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Poland
Description:
Light utility aircraft
Power Plant:
One 224 kw (300 hp) Lycoming IO-540-K1B5 six-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 11.12 m (36 ft 6 in)
- Length: 8.1 m (26 ft 6 in)
- Height: 2.58 m (9 ft 7 in)
- Wing area: 15 m² (161.4 sq ft)
- Max speed: 208 km/h (129 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power: 190 km/h (118 mph)
- Stalling speed with flaps and no power: 95 km/h 59 mph
- Stalling speed with flaps and power: 72 km/h (45 mph)
- Max rate of climb: 293 m/min (961 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 4,120 m (13,517 ft)
- Range: 1,500 km (932 miles)
- Endurance: 8 hrs 20 mins
- Take-off run with full flap: 168 m (551 ft)
- Landing run: 150 m (492 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 400 litres (88 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 900 kg (1,984 lb)
- Useful load: 500 kg (1,102 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,400 kg (3,086 lb)
History:
PZL was founded in 1928 and has, amongst other things, been involved in the construction of aeroplanes for many years. In 1963 it was commissioned by the Polish Government to design and build a utility aircraft using the AI-14 radial engine, supplies of which were plentiful at that time. The type has been produced in great numbers and was in production for some years. Seven were used by the Polish Police for border patrol, being fitted with FLIR airborne surveillance equipment.
Following the success of the PZL Wilga in eastern countries in the pilot training role, as well as for towing gliders, dropping parachutists, carrying cargo and spraying crops, and its robust ability to perform military missions from rough airfields, PZL [owned by CASA and part of the EADS group] had a look at the design of the type to change it to meet western requirements, this mainly entailing the installation of an American piston engine and modern western avionics. The first new model was known as the PZL-104 Wilga 80, first flown in January 1992 and was fitted with a 224 kw (300 hp) Continental IO-550 engine, the first of this model going to the United States in 1991, where it became N7131G (c/n 2089-0885).
This model was developed and became known as the Model 104M Wilga 2000, the prototype (SP-PHG) being first flown in August 1996. Certificated for night IFR, the re-design including new ailerons, the previous ailerons drooping as the flaps were lowered, shortening of the undercarriage and increasing of fuel capacity. Other changes included a re-designed windscreen, lengthened dorsal strake, new undercarriage fairings and a higher standard of surface finish. The new engine was the 224 kw (300 hp) at 2,700 rpm fuel-injected Textron Lycoming IO-540 driving a three-blade constant speed propeller. It has been certificated by both the British CAA and the US FAA and may be fitted with floats or skis.
Conversions have been made to the Model 2000 overseas, one in the United States being fitted with a 507 kw (680 shp) Pratt & Whitney PT-6 engine, this aircraft, known as a Draco Super STOL, demonstrating its STOL abilities at the 2018 EAA event at Oshkosh. An example in Poland has been fitted with a Walter M-601 turboprop.
In 2006 the first example of the model 2000 was imported, becoming VH-ZLD (c/n 00970002 – ex SP-AHV). This was a PZL-104M Wilga 2000 and was the second prototype of this model, being fitted with an IO-540-K1D5 engine driving a Hartzell propeller. It was built in 1997 and was registered to Mr L Doulman of Young, NSW. A further example was imported to Sydney in May 2018 from the United States, being assembled and registered VH-JOO (c/n 0010014 – ex N8850, C-GRJK, N214AL, SP-WDRA). This aircraft previously operated for a period in Canada on floats.