PZL-106 Kruk
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| PZL-106 Kruk | |
|---|---|
 PZL-106A at the Polish Aviation Museum |
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| Type | Agricultural aircraft |
| National origin | Poland |
| Manufacturer | WSK PZL Warszawa-Okęcie |
| Maiden flight | April 17, 1973 |
| Status | in production |
| Primary users | Polish civilian aviation East Germany |
| Produced | 1976- |
| Number built | 275+[1] |
The PZL-106 Kruk (Raven) is a Polish agricultural aircraft designed and built by WSK PZL Warszawa-Okęcie (later PZL "Warszawa-Okęcie").
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[edit] Design and development
The PZL-106 was developed as a modern agricultural aircraft for Poland and Comecon countries, to replace less capable PZL-101 Gawron and aging PZL Antonov An-2 (according to Comecon decisions, it was the Polish industry responsible for agricultural aircraft). There were several agricultural plane designs proposed from the early 1960s by a group of young designers from WSK PZL Warszawa-Okęcie, led by Andrzej Frydrychewicz, on their own initiative, but they were not realized, because the USSR was content of the An-2 and was planning to replace it with a jet aircraft (later PZL M-15 Belphegor). The first was PZL-101M Kruk 63 of 1963, that remained in sketches, but it gave name to further designs. Next were PZL-106 Kruk 65 (1965), PZL-110 Kruk-2T (1969) and PZL M-14 Kruk (1970, it was planned to produce this variant in PZL-Mielec). Only in 1971 the authorities decided to start development of the new agricultural plane, as PZL-106 Kruk 71. Despite this decision, its development was quite protracted, due to both economical and political reasons. The works led by Andrzej Frydrychewicz started in 1972, and based on earlier designs. The first prototype was flown on April 17, 1973. The designers chose a safe layout of a braced low-wing monoplane with a container for chemicals before a pilot, inspired by planes like Piper PA-25 Pawnee (in case of emergency landing, the container would not crush a pilot, sitting high).
The first prototype was powered by an imported 298 kW (400 hp) Lycoming IO-720 flat engine and had a T-tail and wings of wooden construction. There were several prototypes built, and the plane was finally fitted with a 441 kW (600 hp) PZL-3S radial engine, a conventional tail and metal wings. The prototype with a final engine first flew on 25 October 1974.
The final variant was accepted for a production and produced from 1976 under a designation PZL-106A. There were next developed variants PZL-106AR, with PZL-3SR engine and PZL-106AS with a stronger 736 kW ASz-62IR radial engine. By 1982, 144 PZL-106A were built. Several aircraft were modified in Africa to PZL-106AS variant.
On May 15, 1981 there was flown a prototype of an improved variant PZL-106B, with redesigned wings with shorter struts. It was powered with the same PZL-3SR engine and was produced from 1984. In 1982 there was flown a prototype of the PZL-106BS, with ASz-62IR engine. By 1988, 60 PZL-106B were built.
The next step was fitting Kruk with a turboprop engine. The first was the PZL-106AT Turbo Kruk prototype, with 566 kW (770 hp) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG engine, from 1981. The next, basing upon the PZL-106B construction, was the PZL-106BT Turbo Kruk with 544 kW Walter M601D engine, from 1985. PZL-106BT was produced in limited numbers (10 in 1986-1988). The last variant is the PZL-106BTU-34 Turbo Kruk, with Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG engine, from 1998. Both turboprop variants have taller tailfin, BTU-34 differs with more pointed nose.
In total, 266 PZL-106s were produced. The production was renewed in 1995 and as of 2007, PZL-106BT (renamed PZL-106BT-601) with Walter M601 engine and PZL-106BTU-34 with PT6A-34AG engine are still in manufacturer's offer. Limited numbers of turboprop Kruks were produced so far.
[edit] Operational history
Main user of the PZL-106 was the Polish civilian aviation. At that time, Polish state aviation firms often caried out agricultural services abroad, especially in Egypt and Sudan. They were supplemented and partly superseded by PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader. PZL-106A and B were exported to East Germany (major non-Polish user - 54), Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Hungary, Argentina, Spain, Brazil. Some PZL-106BT were sold to Egypt, Argentina (2 at least) and Brazil.
Kruk is considered very robust, reliable and safe plane[citation needed].
[edit] Variants
- PZL-106
- Prototypes, first flew on 17 April 1973.
- PZL-106A
- Basic production variant with 441 kW PZL-3S radial engine, produced 1976-1982
- PZL-106AR
- Prototype with PZL-3SR engine with a reduction gear, first flew on 15 November 1978
- PZL-106AT Turbo Kruk
- Prototype with PT6A-34AG turboprop engine, first flew on 22 June 1981
- PZL-106AS
- Variant with 736 kW PZL ASz-62IR engine, first flew on 19 August 1981
- PZL-106B
- Improved production variant with redesigned wings and shorter struts, PZL-3SR engine, first flew on 15 May 1981, produced in 1984-1988
- PZL-106BS
- Prototype with PZL ASz-62IR engine, first flew on 8 March 1982
- PZL-106BT Turbo Kruk (PZL-106 BT-601)
- Production variant with 544 kW Walter M601D turboprop engine, first flew on 18 September 1985
- PZL-106BTU-34 Turbo Kruk
- Production variant with PT6A-34AG turboprop engine, first flew in 1998
[edit] Operators
Argentina
Brazil
Czechoslovakia
East Germany received 54 aircraft.
Egypt
Hungary
Spain
[edit] Specifications (PZL-106B)
[edit] Description
Metal construction braced low-wing monoplane, conventional in layout. Fuselage of a steel frame, covered with duralumin (front) and canvas (tail). Wings duralumin and canvas covered, fitted with flaps and slats. Single seat cabin, placed high, with an emergency seat for a mechanic behind a pilot. Behind engine there is 1300-litre container in a fuselage for 1050 kg of chemicals, with exchangeable sets of equipment for spraying, cropdusting or fire extinguishing. The container might be replaced with and additional cab for an instructor, for pilot training. Conventional fixed landing gear with a tail wheel.
Single radial engine PZL-3S or SR (600 hp / 441 kW), four blade propeller or turboprop engine with three blade propeller (554 kW Walter M601D or PT6A-34AG). Fuel tanks for 540 l.
General characteristics
- Crew: 1, pilot
- Capacity: 1, mechanic (optional), 1300 l (1050 kg) of chemicals
- Payload: 1,330 kg (2,930 lb)
- Length: 9.1 m (29 ft 10 in)
- Wingspan: 14.90 m (48 ft 10½ in)
- Height: 3.3 m (10 ft 9⅞in)
- Wing area: 32.2 m² (346 m²)
- Empty weight: 1,670 kg (3,674 lb)
- Loaded weight: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× PZL-3SR air-cooled radial engine, 600 hp (441 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 220 km/h (119 knots, 137 mph)
- Cruise speed: 194 km/h (105 knots , 120 mph)
- Stall speed: 90 km/h (49 knots, 56 mph)
- Range: 1100 km (594 nm, 683 mi)
- Service ceiling 4,600 m (15,100 ft)
- Rate of climb: 4 m/s (790 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 93 kg/m² (19 lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: 0.147 kW/kg (0.091 hp/lb)
[edit] References
- Andrzej Glass: Samoloty'85, NOT-SIGMA, Warsaw 1986 (ISBN 83-85001-06-9)
- Andrzej Glass: Samoloty'90, NOT-SIGMA, Warsaw 1990 (ISBN 83-85001-54-9)
- Andrzej Glass, Andrzej Frydrychewicz: Problemy rozwoju samolotu PZL-106 Kruk - Polska Technika Lotnicza - Materiały Historyczne 4/2004 - basing on a lecture in Muzeum Techniki, Warsaw (Polish)
[edit] See also
Comparable aircraft
[edit] External links
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