Photograph:
PZL Koliber 150A VH-MKO (c/n 04940063) at Warnervale, NSW in 2001 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Poland
Description:
Two-seat light sport and training monoplane
Power Plant:
One 112 kw (150 hp) Lycoming O-320-E2A four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.74 m (31 ft 11½ in)
- Length: 7.37 m (24 ft 2¼ in)
- Height: 2.80 m (9 ft 2¼ in)
- Wing area: 12.68 m² (136.5 sq ft)
- Never exceed speed: 251 km/h (156 mph)
- Max cruising speed: 200 km/h (124 mph)
- Manoeuvring speed: 164 km/h (102 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power: 193 km/h (120 mph)
- Stalling speed at 850 kg (1,874 lb) flaps up: 81 km/h (51 mph)
- Stalling speed flaps down: 65 km/h (40 mph)
- Range with 45 mins reserve: 834 km (518 miles)
- Rate of climb: 204 m/min (670 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 3,700 m (12,139 ft)
- Take-off roll: 167 m (548 ft)
- Take-off over 15 m (50 ft) obstacle: 397 m (1,302 ft)
- Landing over 15 m (50 ft) obstacle: 320 m (1,050 ft)
- Landing ground roll: 147 m (483 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 95 litres (21 Imp gals)
- Optional fuel capacity: 140 litres (31 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 568 kg (1,252 lb)
- Useful load: 282 kg (622 lb)
- Loaded weight: 850 kg (1,874 lb)
History:
The Koliber 150 has a long history. It was initially marketed by Morane Saulnier in France as the MS.885 in a number of models with a variety of engines from Continental and Lycoming, flying for the first time in June 1959 with a 67 kw (90 hp) Continental C-90 engine. Eventually in 1965 Morane Saulnier became a subsidiary of Sud Aviation. The Society de Construction de Tourisme et d’Affairs (Socata) was formed in 1966 and this Company continued the development and construction of the type, with over 3,000 examples being delivered. Models included the Rallye, Rallye Commodore and the Rallye Minerva with a Franklin 6A350-C1 engine.
In 1979 Socata introduced new names and models, the Galopin having an 82 kw (110 hp) Lycoming engine and, known as the 110ST; the Galerian having a Lycoming O-540 engine and being intended for glider towing; the Gabier also having the O-540 and being known as the Rallye 235GT, a high performance STOL model. French production of the series concluded in the 1970s and PZL took over, obtaining all production licences. PZL built 500 examples of the Franklin powered model and then sought to certify the Koliber II under FAR Part 23 amendment 29 in the United States, fitting a Lycoming O-320 engine.
Eventually an American company considered the type would be good for pilot training and PZL in Poland commenced construction of the type known as the PZL Koliber II, this being an Americanised variant with 24 volt electrical system, new avionics, engine and changes specified by the FAA in the United States. PZL also built a variant known as the PZL Koliber 160A for the European market and this model was fitted with a Textron Lycoming O-360-D2A engine providing 116 kw (160 hp) at 2,700 rpm.
The 150 model was developed by PZL of Warsaw and Cadmus of Northfield, Illinois for the American market. In the United States the type was certificated for day, night, instrument flight rules and visual flight rules, but was prohibited from flight in known icing conditions. Koliber means Hummingbird.
At least two examples have been seen in this part of the world. ZK-RTB (c/n 03930056), a model 150, was imported by Dougal Dallison of Alternative Aviation and was first flown in New Zealand at Rotorua on 26 April 1997 before moving to a new owner at North Canterbury on 24 July 2003. Another example, a model 150A, was imported and became ZK-PZA (c/n 04940063), this aircraft previously being allotted the registration D-ESDR but this was not taken up. Later the aircraft was exported to Australia where it became VH-MKO to its owner at Bargo, NSW on 7 April 2000, this aircraft being fitted with a Lycoming O-320-E2A engine driving a Sensenich propeller.