On June 24, 2006 PZL-Świdnik celebrated 55th anniversary of the company establishment as well as 50 years of the helicopters production. The most important event of the celebrations was the official opening of the new-built, state-of-the-art Chemical Surface Treatment Center. 

The Center completes the process of creation of the up-to-date surface treatment center dedicated to the aluminium, steel, cupper as well as titanium alloys. PZL-Świdnik started it in 1995 when the anodizing line began operating.

O June 19, 2006 PZL-Świdnik PZL W-3A Sokol helicopter was granted the European certificate of the type issued by European Aviation Safety Agency. The company decided to initiate the procedure of certification 

as the helicopter is of a big interest to many commercial operators specially involved in firefighting campaigns. Currently the Sokols are being in use for firefighting missions in Spain, Portugal and Italy.

At the PZL-Świdnik the 500^th airframe produced for AgustaWestland was handed over on June 9, 2006, marking 10 years of successful co-operation between the two companies.
PZL-Świdnik and AgustaWestland have a log-lasting industrial partnership. PZL-Świdnik is responsible for the production of fuselages and tail booms for A 109 Power, A 119 LUH, A 119 Koala and Grand helicopters. 

In 2000 PZL-Świdnik started the production of the fuselage for the AW 139 medium-twin helicopter. The fuselage was developed by PZL-Świdnik designers. Since 1996 production numbers have increased with over 100 airframes being delivered by PZL-Świdnik to AgustaWestland in 2005.

During the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA Berlin (May 16-21, 2006) PZL-Świdnik demonstrated the first series production manufactured PZL SW-4 helicopter purchased by Poland’s Ministry of National Defence. The aircraft is being used for the programme of implementation of the SW-4 type to Polish Air Force. Another helicopter to be exhibited at ILA 2006 was PZL W-3A Sokol operated by the Czech Air Force.  

Three years of a big effort resulted in a dramatic increase of the PZL-Świdnik sales value if we compare the 2005 to 2003. What are the plans for the following three years? - The question was asked to Mr. Mieczysław Majewski, PZL-Świdnik President & CEO during a press meeting.
In 2003 we sold products and services valued at PLN 150 million . In 2005 at  PLN 300 million  which makes the sales value doubled in two years. In the following three years we are going to achieve PLN 400 million of the sales value.

I would like to emphasize, that the production and sales schedule which covers the years 2006-2008 which we are currently working on is a schedule of a constant and stabile development of the company as far as both sales growth and technical progress are concerned.

The most important investment of the 2006 will be the new, state-of-the-art anticorrosion treatment centre. We are also going to modernize our machining capabilities. Totally, with the help of the European Union structural funds we would be able to invest PLN 100 million.

2006 will also be a year of the „lean manufacturing” philosophy implementation which is supposed to make the production processes more flexible, fluent and efficient.
As a result by the end of 2008 we are going to have the company employing 3600 people, selling products and services of a value of PLN 400 million, modern and efficient, looking for the new challenges.

It is an old Polish custom that when we offer a wallet or a pursue to someone we put inside the smallest Polish coin, 1 grosz. This is for good luck and the coin is expected to multiply and attract more money. This idea was followed by giving the name „Cent for Future” to a competition designed to promote companies offering innovative products or services. 

The prize was funded by the organizer of the competition, the „Polish Market” economic monthly magazine, to the most promising products of Poland’s economy. On December 14, 2005 Mr. Mieczysław Majewski, PZL-Świdnik President & CEO was presented the award of „Cent for Future” in the category „Product with a Future”. The PZL-Świdnik designed product with a future was announced the SW-4 helicopter. The „Cents for future” were granted to the winners by Mr. Piotr Woźniak, Minister of Economy.

PZL-Świdnik is recognized as an innovative, dynamic, reliable manufacturer of modern products – said Mr. Mieczysław Majewski after the celebration held in the Royal Castle in Warsaw. - This positive image without doubt helps us to achieve an economic success.

The Warsaw Stock Exchange was on December 13, 2005 the witness of the celebration of handing the prize to the most innovative Polish enterprise. The competition was organized by BRE Bank and „Gazeta Prawna” which is an economic and legal most popular Polish daily.

The most innovative enterprise among 500 competitors was announced PZL-Świdnik.

Mr. Sławomir Lachowski, the BRE Bank chairman, handing the prize to Mr. Mieczysław Majewski, PZL-Świdnik President & CEO, emphasized that the company invested a lot in the state-of-the-art technologies, research activities and development of its products, created hundreds of new work places, had production co-operation with the most outstanding world aerospace industry partners.

PZL-Świdnik is certified as a design organisation according to Part 21, Section A, Subpart J. EASA Approval Certificate was delivered to PZL-Świdnik on November 25, 2005 following positive evaluation by CAO-Poland and EASA.

- PZL-Świdnik is a certificate holder for W 3A, W 3AS, SW-4 helicopters as well as for PW-5 and PW-6 gliders – said Jan Pyszniak, Director of development for PZL-Świdnik. The Design Organisation Approval has been granted for:

-designing rotorcraft and gliders and changes and repairs thereto in accordance with the applicable type certification basis and environmental protection requirements,

- showing and verifying the compliance with the applicable type-certification basis and environmental protection requirements,

- demonstrating to the Agency this compliance.

On October 18, 2005 an ACARE workshop was held at PZL-Świdnik. The meeting was organised by the Association of Polish Aviation and Defence Industry and PZL-Świdnik.The workshop was attended by representatives of European institutions: Jose Martin-Hernandez (European Commission), Marcello Amato  (ACARE), John Lindley (AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe - ASD), as well as ministries of science, economy and treasure, aviation industry companies, technical universities, research and development centres.

The main subjects of the workshop were:

- Polish effort in strengthening European Research Area (ERA)

- The European Union Framework Programme 7

- Strategy Research Agenda SRA-2

- Participation of Polish aviation scientists and industry in the EU Framework Programme 6

- Prospects of The Aviation Industry in The Expanded Europe

- The integration initiatives for Polish industry and science – Aviation Valley and Polish Aviation Technology Platform
- Initiatives of the Polish Technology Platform to FP7: EPATS (European Personal Air Transport System)

The Empire Test Pilots School based in Boscombe Down history gets back to 1943. The only Polish pilot to study at the school was Janusz Żurakowski brother of Bronisław Żurakowski, the first Polish helicopter designer who developed a construction known as „Gil”. Janusz Żurakowski left for Canada afterwards to fly the first Canadian supersonic jet fighters.

The first Polish group ever to visit ETPS (on October 3, 2005) was the PZL-Świdnik Flight Test Division pilots, engineers and mechanics group.

Roger Moffatt, deputy commander of the school emphasized that the invitation to visit ETPS was a result of the hospitality which the school pilots met in Świdnik visiting the company and flying Polish helicopters for three years.

We decided to invite you to our school so that you could know how we educate our test pilots – said Roger Moffatt.

Waldemar Jaworski – PZL-Świdnik test pilot and Zbigniew Kazulo, in-flight test engineer had an opportunity to perform short flights accompanied by ETPS instructors. Impressions? – We are not really experienced in the light single engine helicopters flying. Only the SW-4, the new PZL-Świdnik designed helicopter gives us the chance. During the flight tests performed using the SW-4 we based on our experience gathered while flying the Sokol which is a very much different aircraft in fact. Now we can see that some remarks we made during the visit at ETPS could be implemented to the SW-4 flight procedures, specially as far as the emergency situations are concerned.

On September 27, 2005 PZL-Świdnik and Rolls-Royce celebrated the 26^th anniversary of the companies partnership.

Scott Crislip, President of Helicopters and Small Gas Turbine Engines for Rolls-Royce, said:  - We are pleased to extend our long-running relationship with PZL-Swidnik and look forward to assisting PZL in the future development of the type. We have been working closely with PZL for over a quarter of a century, and value our partnership with this important customer. 

Majewski, President and CEO of PZL-Świdnik, added: PZL-Świdnik has been using Rolls-Royce turbo shafts for 26 years, powering the Kania and SW-4. The Model 250 has proven to be an extremely reliable power plant, and we look forward to growing our co-operation with Rolls-Royce. We are about to sign a multi-year contract with the Polish Air Force for approximately 30 SW-4s, and this will lay a strong foundation for our future relationship with Rolls-Royce.During the Helitech exhibition, Rolls-Royce presented PZL with a commemorative photo-collage of the Rolls Royce Model 250-powered Kania and SW-4 to mark the 26^th year of collaboration between the two companies. 
PZL-Świdnik and Rolls-Royce have been co-operating on Model 250-powered helicopters since the mid-1970s, when the two companies worked on the Kania light-twin, a re-engined version of the Mi-2.  The Kania, also known as the Kitty Hawk, first flew in 1979, and was subsequently operated by a variety of nations including Cyprus, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. PZL-Świdnik is currently delivering a follow-on batch of Kanias to the Polish Border Guard.

Small, remembering the Battle of England, Duxford airfield placed very close to Cambridge was the place where Helitech 2005 exhibition was organised between September 27 – 29, 2005.
The air show was the witness of the PZL SW-4, the newest PZL-Świdnik product debut in Great Britain. Both Andrzej Stachyra – the PZL Aviation Marketing Manager and Jan Ziubrzyński – the PZL-Świdnik distributor for the Great Britain were very satisfied of the fact.

Despite the strong competition on the light helicopters world market the SW-4 has a big chance to be a successful product. On our way to England we arranged some demonstration flights in Germany which proved the big interest of many potential customers representing both German public services and commercial small firms. The helicopter that was demonstrated at Helitech was equipped with a rich flight control instrumentation We are in good relations with the Maccarthy company which won an order for Airbus A 380 interior arrangement. Combining the two factors we receive a good quality product which can be offered on any market world wide. Now we have to do our best in order to obtain the CAA and EASA type certificates as soon as possible. I believe it will happen by July 2006.
I am happy indeed – added Jan Ziubrzyński. I have been waiting for this moment for two years. There is a big difference between speaking about the helicopter only and having a real opportunity to perform a test flight.

On July 29 the Interstate Aviation Committee of The Commonwealth of the Independent States issued type certificate for the PZL SW-4 helicopter. The document was handed to Mr. Mieczysław Majewski, PZL-Świdnik President & CEO by Mr. Vladimir V. Bezbalow, CIS Aviation Register President during the Moscow MAKS Air Show on August 16, 2005.

The certificate opens up one of the world-wide largest and very promising CIS market for the newest PZL-Świdnik product which is the PZL SW-4 helicopter – said Chairman Mieczysław Majewski. - We hope for the first PZL SW-4  delivery to Russia by the end of the year.

On July 8, 2005, the „Solidarność” trade union at PZL-Świdnik celebrated the 25th anniversary of the first labourer’s protest against the communist system which took place on July 8, 1980. The „Świdnik July” resulted in „Solidarność” trade union establishment in August 1980.

The celebration attended trade unionists who were arrested after the marshal law had been introduced in Poland on December 12/13 1981 as well as those who were forced to leave Poland and now live in the USA, Canada, Germany, Sweden and other countries of all the world.

On June 28, 2005 the first PZL-Świdnik made F-14 transmitter bay access panel was successfully installed onto an F-14 test fuselage. Czes Covington, the US Navy/PZL-Świdnik cooperation programme manager reported: - The panel fits into the access area perfectly. I have decided to release the panel to the squadron for installation. I have also decided to prepare the documentation that will release this part and all future deliveries so that they can be installed and flown without restrictions. 

 I am working this in parallel with the qualification document that  identifies that the PZL-Świdnik facility has successfully passed all testing and qualifies the PZL-Świdnik facility as the sole equipment manufacturer for this part and certifies PZL-Świdnik as being certified by the United States Navy as a manufacturer and supplier of F-14 honeycomb structures.

On June 20, 2005 Mr. Mieczysław Majewski, PZL-Świdnik President & CEO was granted the President of the Republic of Poland Economic Prize in the category „The best Polish Enterprise”.

- The Economic Prize of President of Poland is a synonym of prestige. 170 enterprises joined the competition. I realize that a lot of them are as good as PZL-Świdnik is. The more satisfied and proud we are that President Aleksander Kwaśniewski has chosen PZL-Świdnik - said Mr. Mieczysław Majewski.

.Aleksander Kwaśniewski, President of the Republic of Poland emphasized that PZL-Świdnik was world wide known for the good quality of its products and services. The company creates a positive image of the Polish industry as a whole.

On June 7, 2005 the technical bureau of the US Navy at PZL-Świdnik officially initiated its activity. The bureau was established to supervise the running programme of the F-14 Tomcat transmitter bay access panel production. The bureau will also be looking for the new opportunities of manufacturing cooperation development.

On June 7, 2005 PZL-Świdnik was visited by His Excellency Ambassador of the USA in Poland Mr. Victor Ashe. Mr. V. Ashe was accompanied by the representatives of the US Navy. The main point of the agenda of the visit was the official handover of the first transmitter bay access panel of F-14 tomcat jet fighter to be manufactured by PZL-Świdnik.

During the event US Ambassador emphasized that the beginning of the cooperation meant the new work places establishment as well as reduction of the panel production costs.

The initial contract is valued at 325,000USD but both sides hope to multiply its value in the future.

The centre part of AB139 fuselage no. 50 was delivered to Agusta SpA on the 1^st of March 2005. The structure of the fuselage was designed in PZL-Świdnik R&D Department.

PZL-Świdnik started deliveries of 11 Mi-2 helicopters purchased by the Indonesian police.  Two helicopters leaved Świdnik late January. Deliveries will be completed by the end of June 2005. The total number of Mi-2 helicopters manufactured by PZL-Świdnik reaches 5500.

The NSZZ „Solidarność” trade union at PZL-Świdnik started celebrating of the 25^th anniversary of the first strike to be held in Poland in 1980 against the communist system. The protest resulted in establishing the first independent trade union in the former soviet block – NSZZ „Solidarność”.

Early December 2004 PZL-Świdnik delivered the 1000^th structure of the doors dedicated to the Airbus passenger aircraft. By the time the company has manufactured 636 structures for A320, 334 for A340 and 30 for A300 series.

PZL-Świdnik has completed manufacturing of the first light PZL SW-4W helicopter that has been ordered by Polish Air Force. Following four helicopters of the type are on the PZL-Świdnik production line. The first aircraft will be delivered in December 2004. Initially it will be used for pilots training at the Air Force Academy in Deblin. Polish Ministry of  Defence has announced new orders for more than 30 SW-4s.

On October 28, 2004  PZL-Świdnik delivered W-3 Sokol helicopter to the Tatra Mountains Rescue Service.

PZL-Świdnik has won two tenders on the deliveries of five helicopters to the Polish Border Guard. One of them is W-3RMA Anaconda which is the maritime search and rescue version of W-3A Sokol helicopter. The aircraft will operate over the Baltic Sea part of the Polish border.

The four units of PZL Kania which represent a deep modification of well world wide known PZL Mi-2 helicopters will be equipped to meet the requirements of patrolling missions.

PZL-Świdnik and Ministry of National Defence of Poland have signed a contract on a deep modification of  about 30 units of  W-3W and W-3WA helicopters which are the military versions of W-3 Sokol in service in the Polish Land Forces since the early 90-ties.

The modification refers to the helicopter itself as well as its military equipment.

All the aircraft will be equipped with FADEC system, mission computer, Independent Navigation/GPS system,  full night vision equipment, sighting/targeting head, LCD cockpit, nose-mounted machine gun. The doors and floor of the pilots’ cabin will be armoured. The prototype of the modified W-3W/3WA Sokol will be ready in June 2006.

On August 18, 2004 PZL-Świdnik pilots/technical crew training centre received certificate in accordance with the EU aviation regulations. Since the day it is in charge to train pilots operating PZL Sokol, Mi-2, SW-4 as well as PZL Kania helicopters.

The U.S. Navy established a manufacturing programme at PZL-Świdnik to produce metal components for use with U.S. F-14 military aircraft. The initial phases of the project include certification of the PZL facilities, qualification of the procedures, and manufacture of test assemblies.

The Navy’s Office Comparative Testing funds the programme, which is managed by the F-14 Programme Office. The programme includes co-operation between PZL-Świdnik and U.S. companies that will supply various materials and sub-components.

This is the first such project in Poland as well as Middle Eastern Europe. It will foster co-operation between PZL-Świdnik and American companies and provide PZL-Świdnik with a conduit into U.S. aerospace markets.

On April 22, 2004 the Aerospace, Defence and Space Industries Association of Europe was established. PZL-Świdnik which is a member of Association of Polish Aviation Industry joined the ASD the same day. Mr. Mieczyslaw Majewski, President of APAI as well as President and CEO PZL-Świdnik became a member of the Board of Directors of ASD.

PZL Swidnik has obtained a nomination for Economic Prize of the President of the Republic of Poland in the category Product or Technology Development. The subject of the nomination are the innovative solutions of the PZL SW-4 helicopter design. They refer to the centre part of the fuselage design as well as main rotor hub, main and tail rotor blades, and the method of the skid type undercarrage fitting to the fuselage.

All the innovations mentioned above have been patented. The team which has designed the PZL SW-4 consisted of Krzysztof Bzówka, Dariusz Lisowski, Tadeusz Górski, Stefan Płowaś, Mirosław Profeta, Zbigniew Dec, Zbigniew Romaniszyn, Sławomir Kowalski.
The verdict of the jury is expected to be announced in early May, 2004.

PZL-Swidnik has established the W-500, which is a new division in the frames of the company’s Aviation Department. W-500 employs near 200 workers and is dedicated to fulfil the manufacturing orders of the Italian Agusta Sp a. which is one of the most important industrial partners of PZL-Swidnik.PZL-Swidnik manufactures the fuselages of three types of Agusta’s helicopters: A-109 Power, A-119 Koala and AB 139. The cenrte part of the fuselage of AB 139 has been designed by PZL-Swidnik R&D Department.

Military version of the PZL W-3/W-3A Sokol helicopter receives the new painting which meets the NATO standards requirements. On the picture - the new painting of the Sokol shown by the aircraft belonging to the 25th Air Cavalry Regiment based in Tomaszow Mazowiecki.

From  February 24 to 27, 2004 Mieczysław Majewski, the President of PZL-Świdnik visited Singapure, Malaysia and Indonesia. President Majewski accompanied Mr. Aleksander Kwaśniewski, the President of Poland, who visited the countries with a group of Polish businessmen. During one of the official meetings an agreement was signed referring to the future co-operation between PZL-Świdnik and Indonesian Aerospace company in the helicopters production.

On January 1, 2004 Association of Polish Aviation Industry became a member of the European Association of Aerospace Industries (AECMA) which is the representation of the national associations of aerospace industries of the European Union membering countries. This way over 20 companies of Polish aviation industry joined the United Europe.

The decision was taken during the AECMA meeting held on October 3, 2003 in Edinbourgh. APAI was represented in Scotland by Mr. Mieczyslaw Majewski, the Chairman of the Association and the President of PZL-Swidnik S.A. and Mr. Marek Darecki, the Deputy Chairman of APAI and the President of WSK Rzeszow. On January 1, 2004 Mr. M. Majewski joined the Council Board of AECMA.

Mr. M. Majewski said: I am convinced that the majority of Polish aerospace companies have the capabilities which enable them to participate in the joint European R&D as well as manufacturing aerospace programmes. One cannot imagine the European integration of Polish aviation industry without its membership in AECMA.

On November 20, 2003 a contract was signed on the sale of  one PZL SW-4 helicopter to Polish Air Force. The aircraft will be delivered in August 2004. PZL-Swidnik has also received an order for the next unit of PZL SW-4 which is expected to be delivered to the Polish Air Force by the end of 2004.

On September 19, 2003 PZL W-3A2 Sokol helicopter was delivered to Helibravo which is a Spanish commercial operator. The helicopter has been manufactured in fire-fighting version. It is equipped with expandable water tank which has been designed by PZL-Swidnik R&D department and specially dedicated to the Sokol. The tank is able to carry up to 1500 l of water The PZL W-3A2 Sokol is fitted with EFIS as well as Smiths Industries SN-530 4 axis autopilot. The helicopter will entirely be used for the fire-fighting operations in Portugal.

On March 7, 2003 PZL-Swidnik signed a contract on the sale of one PZL W-3 Sokol helicopter to Russia. The helicopter has been manufactured in VIP/passenger version and purchased by government of one of the Russian provinces. The aircraft was delivered on August 1, 2003. At the late 80-ties Swidnik supplied around 20 of Sokols to Aeroflot - the state owned airlines of former Soviet Union. A few years later when Aeroflot suffered financial crisis they were bought out by Heliseco (a PZL-Swidnik company) and are being used in Spain for the summer fire-fighting capaigns.

In March 2003 the family of helicopters produced by PZL-Swidnik was enlarged by the PZL Mi-2plus model which was granted type certificate issued by Civil Aviation Office (ULC) of Poland. The PZL Mi-2plus a twin-engined, 9 seat multi-purpose helicopter is a major modification of Mi-2 model which has been exclusively produced by PZL-Świdnik since 1965. PZL-Swidnik has manufactured over 5450 helicopters of this type which have logged over 20 million flight hours. In many versions (passenger, transport, EMS, utility, fire-fighting, police, agricultural, military) they were sold to 28 countries all over the world. PZL-Mi-2plus offers new more powerful GTD-350W2 engines manufactured by WSK Rzeszów. It features improved take-off power as well as the rate of climb and the level of IGE/OGE hover ceiling. As a result the PZL Mi-2plus can perform flights in OEI conditions

Improved technical data:  

Additionally the PZL Mi-2plus helicopter is equipped with composite main rotor blades as well as Honeywell & Garmin avionics and modernised fuel system.

On February, 23 2003 a contract between PZL-Swidnik and GKN Aerospace Services was signed on the supplies of inlet, fan cowl doors, inner fan duct and composite acoustic panels for the engines of the new Challenger 300 bizjet.

The contract means:

      - Deliveries of total value of 60 mln US dollars

      - 5 mln dollars of investment in infrastructure and new technologies to establish the state-of-art composite products manufacturing centre

      - 100 new work places

PZL PZL-Swidnik is going to implement the most advanced composite technologies. It is going to double the  surfice of clean room possesed as well as to introduce modern machinery: 5 axis router, A&C scan, computer measurement machine, Desitech (cloth cutter), Virtek (ply location equipment), acoustic and materials test lab equipment.

On March 7, 2003 Polish Civil Aviation Office (ULC) issued type certificate to the PZL-Swidnik PZL W-3A2 Sokol helicopter which is equipped with Smiths Industries SN 530 4 axis autopilot. 

The autopilot offers a lot of options for automatic flight of the helicopter. SAR option allows the pilot to programme a flight including automatic hover approach and hover.
In the frames of navigational option, the PZL W-3A2 Sokol is able to make an automatic flight along the run encoded in GPS system with constant cruise speed and flight level.

PZL SW-4, the new design of PZL-Swidnik engineers has completed its certification flight tests. Two prototypes of the helicopter have flown over 900 hours. Certificate in accordance with FAR-27/ JAR-27 regulations requirements was officially granted by Polish Civil Aviation Authorities (GILC) on November 14, 2002. PZL SW-4 is probably the only design to be recently developed by a single company.

Polish Air Force is going to purchase 47 units of SW-4 helicopter by the year 2010 – announced gen. Ryszard Olszewski – head of Air Force on 14 May 2002. Entirely, SW-4 will be used for pilots training in Air Force Academy in Deblin. SW-4, new design of PZL-Swidnik engineers is completing its certification flight tests. Two prototypes of the helicopter have flown over 640 hours. There are still another 25 hours to be flown. Certificate meeting FAR – 27/ JAR 27 regulations requirements is supposed to be granted by Polish Civil Aviation Authorities (GILC) in October 2002.

During ILA 2002 exhibition in Berlin (6-12 May 2002) PZL-Swidnik exhibited its two new products: SW-4 helicopter and PZL I-23 Manager, 4-seat composite plane. Both aircraft were demonstrated in flight by PZL-Swidnik test pilots Waldemar Jaworski and Jaroslaw Rozwod.

On March 26, 2002 the first cockpit of Mirage 2000-5 “Made in PZL-Swidnik” was officialy delivered to Dassault Aviation, the French producer of the jetfighter. The contract on production of 24 single–seat version cockpits was signed in March 2001. The last of 24 cabins will be delivered by the end of 2002.

As Mr. Bruno Cotte, Dassault Aviation Vicepresident International emphasized, Dassault Aviation decided to place the production of Mirage cockpit in PZL-Swidnik after a few years of observation of different Polish aviation companies. The Possession of state-of-the-art anticorrosion treatment line as well as years of experience in aircraft structures manufacturing appeared to be the strong points of PZL-Świdnik.

Additionally, Dassault Aviation decided to locate in PZL-Swidnik the production of ailerons for three versions of its Falcon bizjet. The first kit was officialy delivered the same day.

The special guest of 26 March celebration was Mr. Patrick Gautrat, Ambassador of France in Poland.

On 25 March 2002 PZL-Swidnik delivered Mi-2 helicopter to the United Arab Emirates Police Department. The Helicopter was built in passenger version. It is fitted with externally mounted air conditioning system.

In December 2001 PZL-Swidnik delivered three Sokol helicopters to three various customers. The first one, W-3ARM Anaconda search and rescue version was purchased by Polish Navy. The helicopter is equipped with state-of-the-art Safire II FLIR system combined with SX16 searchlight. FLIR is controlled by two monitors used independently by helicopter pilot and FLIR operator. Anaconda is also fitted with TACAN navigation system compatible with NATO standards.

The second Sokol (W-3A) was delivered to the Southkorean KAI company in transport/passenger version. The helicopter will also be used for fire-fighting missions. For this purpose Sokol was equipped with expandable belly water tank originally designed by PZL-Swidnik R&D Department.

The last of Sokols to leave Swidnik in December 2001 was ordered by the United Arab Emirates Police Department. W-3A Sokol, which was supplied to the UAE, commonly carrying up to 12 passengers can be easily transformed into 4-seat VIP configuration.

004 Le Bourget (France), 16-24 June 2001

       44^th Paris Air Show 2001

It was 5^th attendance of PZL-Świdnik in Paris Air Show in France. We organized company booth under logo of 50^th anniversary of Company existence. We presented two helicopters PZL-Sokół (static display) and PZL SW-4 (everyday in flight presentation). It was worldwide premiere in flight of PZL SW-4 helicopter. In the middle of 2002 we expect to receive Polish type certificate JAR-27 for PZL SW-4.

PZL-Świdnik S.A. was established on 1^st of January 1951. In 2001 we celebrated 50^th anniversary of the Company activity. On this occasion from 9^th to 10^th of June 2001 was performed special events in Świdnik. The main point of the celebrity was Air Show over the company airfield for thousands of spectators.

On September 23, 2000, four World Class sailplanes PW-5 left for Egypt. Not longer than a week later, they were followed by four PW-6 sailplanes ordered also by an Egyptian customer. This was the very first sale of PW-6, the latest product of our factory.

At the end of September and beginning of October, a marketing team of PZL Świdnik S.A. traveled to Germany and Austria. Both these countries, because of popularity of flying sports, a large number of flying clubs, as well as wealth of flying fans, are very attractive markets for our sailplanes.

"The PW-6 can be an interesting alternative for the German sailplane ASK-21 - said Nikhil Gupta, a person responsible at PZL Świdnik for marketing of sailplanes - Having similar technical parameters, the PW-6 is twice cheaper than its competitors. During our tour in Germany and Austria, almost 200 pilots had a chance to fly our demo sailplane. Some of these pilots are going to visit Świdnik to know this sailplane better. I'm sure that the next year we will be able to sell several sailplanes to Germany and Austria.

This year the sale of four PW-6's to Egypt will be complemented by delivery of one sailplane to New Zealand. In 2001, next contracts with Canada and USA are expected for over 10 sailplanes.

On September 15, 2000, a celebration of awarding the Type Certificate to the factory's new product, PW-6 Sailplane, was held in the conference room of PZL Świdnik.

Three partners developed the PW-6: Warsaw University of Technology, Experimental Workshop of Composite Aircraft Structures (DWLKK), and PZL Świdnik S.A. A team headed by Roman Świtkiewicz, Ph.D, designed the sailplane. This is the same team who designed the World Class sailplane PW-5. A chief designer of PW-6 is Wojciech Frączek. The first prototype of PW-6, which had its maiden flight on July 18, 1998, was built at DWLKK, but the manufacturer of PW-6, and also the owner of the Type Certificate, is PZL Świdnik S.A.

The new product is an all-composite, two-seat sailplane. It was designed primarily for pilot training. The PW-6 is capable of performing some aerobatic figures. Its price is 77.000 DM. The PW-6 is a complement of PZL Świdnik's sailplane offer as "the first step" before changing to the single-seat PW-5.