TWO TEST PILOTS died when a prototype PZL-Okecie PZL-130 TC Turbo Orlik trainer crashed in Poland on 25 January.
The accident took place near Warsaw, and early reports suggest that the aircraft may have suffered an engine failure. The PZL-130TC is an export variant of the Orlik, with a 700kW (940hp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-62 engine, Martin-Baker CH15A ejection seats and AlliedSignal Bendix/King avionics.
The crash came one day after the Polish air force lost one of its PZL-Mielec I-22 Iryda jet trainers in a fatal accident at its pilot-training school in Deblin.
The aircraft was one of the early production aircraft fitted with two, 11kN (2,470lb)-thrust, PZL-5 turbojets. The cause of the accident is unclear, although early Irydas have been criticised by the air force for being under-powered.
Source: Flight International
