Sokols Arrived in Philippine Airspace

Its about time, finally...
February 15, 2012

The Philippine Air Force's newest bird.PZL W-3 Sokół helicopters

The Philippine Air Force has a new bird. And they are brand new. The first equipment to be bought first hand after more than 50 years.

The delivery flight was flown in by Volga-Dnepr Airlines, a cargo company registered in Russia, using its heavy lifter Antonov AN124-100 Ruslan to Air Force City in Clark Airbase, Pampanga from Rzeszów-Jasionka International Airport in Poland, the Air Force said.

Maj. Gen. Roy Deveraturda, AFP deputy chief of staff for plans, said they received 4 choppers, with tail numbers 310919, 310920,310921, and 310922, from PZL Swidnik of Poland that won the bid for Combat Utility Helicopter (CUH) project in 2009.

Teams from the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) assessment team are currently inspecting the shipment.

Deveraturda said that much as they would like the new helicopters to be deployed immediately for disaster response, they cannot do so and fly immediately because of some procedural requirements needed for its acceptance.

He said the choppers has been delayed for delivery due to some circumstances beyond the control of the manufacturer. It would have been delivered late last year but was flown in only yesterday due to workers strike at Swidnik plant. Deveraturda would not say if delay was compensated, but sources within the AFP confirmed the existence of penalty clause in the contract for delays in delivery.

Public Information Office Director Lt. Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol said the “Sokol,” is NVG (Night Vision Goggle)-capable and is equipped with an SN 350 Autopilot, making it more capable utility platform than the UH-1H Huey helicopters. While the Huey can carry only seven passengers, the Sokol can accommodate 10 passengers for 3 hours and 19 minutes and can reach a maximum range of 402 nautical miles in a single flight with airspeed of 140.5 knots.

The Sokol is also fitted with gun mounts for the M60D MG on both sides and when used in search and rescue or over water operations, it can be equipped with pilot-controlled Emergency Floatation Gear attached to the lowest portion of the aircraft.

The AFP is expecting delivery of 4 more PZL W-3 Sokół helicopters in the last quarter of the year. The entire CUH project costs P2.8 billion.

Sokols Delivery flight