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PZL Kania
PZL Kania
	PZL Kania of the Polish Police
General information
Type	Helicopter
Manufacturer	PZL-Świdnik
Primary user	Poland
Number built	19
History
Manufactured	1986–2006
First flight	3 June 1979
Developed from	Mil Mi-2

The PZL Kania (Polish Kite, also marketed as Kitty Hawk) is a follow-up design to the Mil Mi-2 helicopter, developed in Poland by PZL-Świdnik.

Design and development

In 1964, an agreement was signed between Poland and the Soviet Union assigning production of the Mil Mi-2 twin-engined light helicopter exclusively to the WSK PZL-Świdnik factory at Świdnik, Poland.^[1]

Work on a significantly redesigned version of the Mi-2 started in 1977.^[2] PZL decided to develop, in conjunction with the American aero-engine company Allison, a re-engined version for export for western markets, the Kania or Kitty Hawk.^[1] The changes include a modified fuselage with more pointed nose, new engines (Allison Model 250-C20B turboshaft engines) each rated at 313 kW (420 hp), new composite rotor blades, and new western avionics. The first prototype, utilizing a modified Mi-2 airframe, was flown on 3 June 1979.^[3] Two prototypes were made and two pre-series machines. Tests conducted during the early 1980s led to certification according to FAR-29, in February 1986.^[2]

The prototype SP-SSC took part in the 5th Helicopter World Championships in Castle Ashby in 1986.^[2] Production started that year in limited quantity, in the PZL Świdnik factory. The helicopter was intended to be a replacement of the Mi-2, more economical, comfortable and offering better performance, and it compared quite favourably with Western counterparts. It did not become popular, however, partly due to problems with certification and a weak promotion in Western countries, and reluctance to spend convertible currency for imported parts in Eastern Bloc countries in the 1980s. Only 19 were built until 2006, including prototypes.^[4] It isn't currently offered by PZL-Świdnik.^[5]

The main user is the Polish Border Guard, with 7 helicopters (not concurrently). The Polish Police used two helicopters.^[4] Three Polish Kanias were employed in air service in Sierra Leone in 1987–1990.^[6] In 2007, Świdnik offered 6 armed Kanias for Philippine Air Force, but lost in competition^[7] (finally, after cancelling a procedure, PZL W-3 Sokół was chosen).^{[citation needed]}

Variants

Passenger Standard: Seats for pilot and 9 passengers, individual vents and lighting.^{[citation needed]}
Passenger Executive: Seats for pilot and 5 passengers, luxury finishing, silenced cockpit, individual vents, lighting and audio system.^{[citation needed]}
Cargo: Ability to carry 800 kg (1,764 lb) external loads as a flying crane or to carry up to 1,200 kg (2,646 lb) of load in the cabin.^{[citation needed]}
Medevac / Air ambulance: Equipment and space for up to 4 stretchers or less with paramedic crew on board.^{[citation needed]}
Agricultural: Ability to carry up to 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) of chemicals or agro loads (grains, seeds etc.) and ability to carry on one of following aerial application methods: LV spraying, ULV spraying, dustring and spreading (not built in series, only tested).^{[citation needed]}
Spitfire Taurus II or Super Kania^{[citation needed]}: American version of the PZL Kania, with redesigned fuselage and single 550 shp (410 kW) Allison Model 250-C28 engine, with a big central air inlet, that was to be built under licence in the United States by Spitfire Helicopters but only a mock-up was built.^[7]

Operators

Cyprus

Cyprus Air Forces^[8]

Poland

Border Guard^[9]

Slovakia

Air Transport Europe^[10]

Specifications

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988–89^[3]

General characteristics

Crew: 1 or 2
Capacity: 8 or 9 / 1,200 kg (2,646 lb) internal payload, 800 kg (1,764 lb) slung load / 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) chemicals
Length: 17.47 m (57 ft 4 in) overall

12.03 m (39 ft) fuselage only

Height: 3.75 m (12 ft 4 in) to top of rotor head
Empty weight: 2,000 kg (4,409 lb)
Gross weight: 3,350 kg (7,385 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 3,550 kg (7,826 lb)
Fuel capacity: 600 L (160 US gal; 130 imp gal) standard internal fuel, with provision for additional 423 L (112 US gal; 93 imp gal) in auxiliary tanks
Powerplant: 2 × Allison 250-C20B turboshaft engines, 313 kW (420 hp) each
Main rotor diameter: 14.558 m (47 ft 9 in)
Main rotor area: 166.5 m² (1,792 sq ft)
Blade section: NACA 23012M^[11]

Performance

Cruise speed: 215 km/h (134 mph, 116 kn) maximum cruise
Economical cruise speed: 190 km/h (120 mph; 100 kn)
Range: 430 km (270 mi, 230 nmi) internal fuel, econ cruise, with 30 minutes reserve

493 km (306 mi; 266 nmi) internal fuel, econ cruise, with no reserve

Ferry range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi) maximum fuel, with 30 minutes reserve

863 km (536 mi; 466 nmi) maximum fuel, econ cruise, with no reserve

Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
Hover ceiling IGE: 2,500 m (8,202 ft)
Hover ceiling OGE: 1,375 m (4,511 ft)
Rate of climb: 8.75 m/s (1,722 ft/min)
Maximum rate of climb on one engine: 1.017 m/s (3.34 ft/s)

References

^ ^a ^b Taylor, John W.R., ed. (1983). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1982–83 (73rd ed.). London: Jane's Publishing Company. pp. 169–170. ISBN 978-0-7106-0748-5.
^ ^a ^b ^c Bogdański, Miłosz (2009). "Kania uczy się latać (Kania learns to fly)". Aeroplan (in Polish). 5–6 (80–81). Warsaw: 4–16.
^ ^a ^b Taylor, John W.R., ed. (1988). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1988–89 (79th ed.). London: Jane's Information Group. pp. 188–189. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.
^ ^a ^b Bogdański, Miłosz (2009). "Lista produkcyjna śmigłowców Kania (Kania production list)". Aeroplan (in Polish). 5–6 (80–81). Warsaw: 46.
^ Official PZL-Swidnik page [retrieved 11-3-2011]
^ Bogdański, Miłosz (2009). "Kania w służbie (Kania in service)". Aeroplan (in Polish). 5–6 (80–81). Warsaw: 24–32.
^ ^a ^b Bogdański, Miłosz (2009). "Niezrealizowane projekty i nieudany eksport". Aeroplan (in Polish). 5–6 (80–81). Warsaw: 17–23.
^ "World Air Forces 2004 pg. 53". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
^ "PZL Kania in Polish Border Guard Service". aeroflight.co.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
^ "PZL "Kania", 1979 ("Kitty Hawk")". samolotypolskie.pl. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.