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PZL-104 Wilga ("golden oriole") is a Polish designed and built short-takeoff-and-landing (STOL) Civil Aviation utility aircraft manufactured by PZL "Warszawa-Okęcie". The Wilga has evolved through many ever-improving versions during its continuous production from 1962 to 2006, when the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) announced on their website the production of this aircraft would cease. ==Design and development== The PZL-104 was designed for robust use in sports, civil aviation, with a strong emphasis on glider-towing and parachute training. The prototype of the initial Wilga Mark 1 variant was first flown on 24 April 1962 powered by an existing Polish horizontally-opposed engine the PZL WN-6RB. The Wilga 1 prototype exposed a number of design faults, the most serious of which was excessive weight and a rear view restriction such that the crew could not easily see a towed glider. This resulted in an airframe review that thoroughly redesigned the aircraft, led by Bronisław Żurakowski and Andrzej Frydrychewicz. Retaining major structural elements and successful sub-assemblies from the wings in the initial design, a completely new slimmer, strengthened fuselage was added that also offered an excellent rear view aspect for the crew during glider towing operations, and the side doors were re-engineered to open upwards for better aero observation or parachute jump sorties. The upgraded aircraft could be flown with the doors open if required, and had an air ambulance conversion capability. The new PZL-104 Wilga Mark 2 variant first flew on 1 August 1963, followed by a short production run which later was converted to the Wilga C and Wilga Mark 3 configurations. On 30 December 1963 the Wilga C (or Wilga Mark 2 Subvariant C) was flown, an export variant for Indonesia powered by the imported North American -certified horizontally-opposed Continental O-470 engine. The Wilga 2 airframe had proved a successful design, but the WN-6RB engine was not fully developed and so did not enter serial production. As a result, it was decided to use an in-production radial engine, the Ivchenko AI-14R; and this led to the PZL-104 Wilga Mark 3 variant, which first flew on 31 December 1965. The new engine was more powerful but it spoilt the previously clean and aerodynamic fuselage lines, originally designed for a flat engine; nonetheless, the new variant was successful. Due in combination to the power of the engine and the STOL capability of the airframe, an extraordinary high rate of climb of 11 m/s (2,165 fpm) (maximum) under minimal load was possible. One of a few remaining flaws was a relatively uneconomical engine. The Wilga 32 was an improved small-series export variant with a Continental flat engine, produced also in Indonesia as the "Gelatik". After producing 13 Wilga 3s there were some improvements made, most notably a landing gear base increased from to improve stability. An improved model, designated PZL-104 Wilga 35, first flew on 29 June 1967, subsequently entering mass production. The most numerous variant of Wilga 35 was the utility plane Wilga 35A, others were built in small numbers or remained prototypes. From 1979 the Wilga 80 went into production, an improved model certified for the US market. In the late 1990s the PZL-104MA Wilga 2000 〔(Picture of the PZL-Okecie PZL-104MA Wilga-2000 aircraft )〕 family was developed with Lycoming flat engines and with improved aerodynamics. Over 1,000 Wilgas of all types have been built, including 935 of the Wilga 35 and 80. This means more PZL-104 have been produced than any other Polish aircraft design. A Canadian aircraft supplier considered building the Wilga aircraft for the Air Cadet league due to its complete compliance with glider training requirements, and the need for more aircraft, but were unable to get the necessary support of EADS to further produce the PZL-104MA Wilga 2000.〔The Air Cadet League of Canada - Annual Report 2007: (L-19 Aircraft Replacement Program )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「PZL-104 Wilga」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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