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W-3A Sokol combat utility helicopter & SAR; W-3A Sokol (Falcon)
Topic Started: Sun Nov 3, 2013 12:53 am (142 Views)
Flipzi
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W-3A Sokol / Falcon

combat utility helicopter & SAR


"W-3A Sokol is a medium-size helicopter primarily designed to deliver combat support for the armed forces."


The Philippines got 8 of the brand new choppers with state-of-art avionics. Signed as part of the air force's modernisation programme, the contract also included delivery of ground support equipment and spare parts, as well as support services and training for aircrew and maintainers.

All the 8 Sokols are now operated by the 505th Search and Rescue Group.

PZL-Swidnik Management Board president Mieczyslaw Majewski said the company hopes to expand its partnership with the air force through the provision of technical support and ongoing operational support for the helicopters.

Philippine Air Force spokesman Miguel Ernesto Okol was quoted by Philstar.com as saying that the helicopters will greatly improve the service's search and rescue (SAR) capability.

The first batch of four helicopters was delivered in February 2012, while the second, comprising of two aircraft, was handed over in November 2012. PZL-Swidnik has handed over the final two on February 18, 2013.

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photo: credit to the owners

Flown by the company trained pilots of the 505th Search and Rescue Group, the helicopters have proven to be highly-effective and reliable when operating in challenging conditions.

Powered by two WSK PZL-Rzeszow PZL-10W turboshaft engines, the W-3A Sokol is a medium-size helicopter primarily designed to deliver combat support for the armed forces, as well as to destroy fixed and moving armoured targets and hostile troops.

PAF Sokols are integrated with the latest navigation and avionics systems, such as four-axis autopilot, an electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) and night vision goggle (NVG) compatible cockpit enabling operations during day and night in all weather conditions.

Capable of flying 734km or staying airborne for more than four hours, the 6t helicopter can transport up to 11 troops in the cabin or lift up to 2,100kg using its external cargo hook.

The PZL W-3 Sokół (Polish for "Falcon") is a Polish medium-size, twin-engine, multipurpose helicopter manufactured by PZL-Świdnik (now AgustaWestland Świdnik).

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 November 16, 1979, and has since been certificated in Poland, Russia, the US and Germany. Design of W-3 was definitely inspired by the Soviet Mil Mi-2, license-produced by PZL-Świdnik in Poland, since 1962 during all the period when Poland was a participant of Eastern-European Communist block. The new helicopter was bigger, and 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 turboshafts, 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.

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Operational history

Since 2003, four W-3WA were used by the Independent Air Attack Group (Polish: Samodzielna Grupa Powietrzno-Szturmowa) of the Polish forces in Iraq. In total eight helicopters were deployed until 2008. One of them (serial number 360902) crashed in an accident near Karbala on 15 December 2004. Three soldiers died, three were wounded.

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photo: credit to the owner


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[22] (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 × WSKPZL 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)

Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PZL_W-3_Sok%C3%B3%C5%82

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photo: credit to the owner


Other References

Philippine Air Force receives Sokol helicopters from PZL-Swidnik
http://www.airforce-technology.com/news/newsphilippine-air-force-sokol-helicopters-pzl-swidnik

Air Force obtains last batch of 8 new W-3 Sokol helicopter
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/02/17/909953/air-force-obtains-last-batch-8-new-w-3-sokol-helicopter

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Edited by Flipzi, Sun Nov 3, 2013 1:38 am.
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
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Videos

Video: PZL W3 Sokol for Philippines

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urRwzx8gaII

Video: PZL W3 Sokol EXHIBITION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZufex8XMo8

Video: Philippine Air Force's Brand New Multi-purpose CUH (SOKOL) 03 09 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svVJminGhHc

Video: SONA: PHL Air Force, may 8 bagong Sokol helicopters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJqSzyk5LMk

Video: Sokol in a VIP transport sortie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BagkJfut1Y
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them!"

" People don't care what we know until they know we care."
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PAF Sokol prior to delivery to the Philippines

credit to the photo owner
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
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W-3A Sokol lands in a shoreline somewhere in Leyte to bring in sacks of relief goods to far flung areas that were hard to reach by land.

Courtesy of PAFAcer Francis Karem Elazegui Neri PAFFS CL'95 / Pinoy Aviators' page
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
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" People don't care what we know until they know we care."
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photo shared by: Rappler

AID FROM THE AIR. Members of the Philippine Air Force Sokol 550th Search and Rescue Group drop sacks of food relief in eastern Samar province, Philippines, 17 November 2013. EPA/Dennis Sabangan

http://www.rappler.com/nation/43990-airlift-remote-yolanda-survivors
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them!"

" People don't care what we know until they know we care."
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Aircrew of the 505th SAR Group's Sokol chopper! This is what a season aircrew of the 505th Search and Rescue Group usually looks like.

Photo Courtesy of John K Chua
Shared by Pinoy Aviators page


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Female pilot of the W-3A Sokol Helicopter from the 505th Search and Rescue Group smiles while delivering relief goods in remote areas of Bohol during the massive earthquake that hit the country.

Photo Courtesy of John K Chua
Shared by Pinoy Aviators page


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Shared by Pinoy Aviators page
Edited by Flipzi, Fri Nov 22, 2013 11:04 am.
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
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http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

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Philippine Air Force W-3A Sokols of the 505th Search and Rescue Group at Clark Air Force City.

Photo courtesy of PJ Enriquez
Shared by Pinoy Aviators page
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

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" People don't care what we know until they know we care."
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Kiss the ground...c",)

Photo courtesy of Capt. Roderick Padual PAFFS CL'2006 B
Shared by Pinoy Aviators page

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Sokol's W3A panel

Video: W3 Falcon Philippine Air Force

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV3WSG6NmkU

Video: ATACs hawker hunter vs Philippine Air Force S-211

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL3jvHr30Bw

Video: Philippine Air Force S-211 Jets formation landing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTUqxaQ5kwI
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them!"

" People don't care what we know until they know we care."
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According To MaxDefense, PAF through its Spokesperson Col. Okol recently confirmed that the PAF's 8 W-3A Sokols will be installed with rescue winches, upgrade its rescue capability, and will be painted in 505th SAR Group colors after its 2-years manufacturer's warranty expires starting after February 2014. Also confirmed was the PAF's plan to acquire a minimum of 1 Squadron of Multi-role fighters within 2-3 years after the FA-50's purchase.
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them!"

" People don't care what we know until they know we care."
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NEW COLOR SCHEME

New color scheme for the 8 Sokol choppers marking it as a Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter under the 505th Search and Rescue Group

photo credit: Armed Forces of the Philippines page

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Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them!"

" People don't care what we know until they know we care."
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