Koliber G-BVAI returns to Poland

PZL 110 Koliber 150 registration G-BVAI has just returned to Poland after a ferry flight by Plane4You from its home base in Ireland. 

This Koliber is S/N 03900040 ( ie Koliber #40 ) and was built at the PZL factory at Okecie in Warsaw and had its first flight on 29th June 1990. The aircraft was delivered new to a customer in Denmark as OY-CYJ in August 1990. In July 1993 this Koliber was imported into the UK taking up the registration G-BVAI and since then has had ten registered owners in the UK. By August 2018 it had flown 1,004 flight hours.

The aircraft is now with the Aeroklub at Swidnik having departed its home base of Birr, Ireland and routing via Waterford Ireland, Bristol UK, Biggin Hill UK, Antwerp Belgium, Kassel Germany, Berlin Schönhagen, Leszno Poland, Warsaw-Bemowo Poland and finally to Swidnik. G-BVAI was cancelled by the UK CAA on 20th October 2021.

The aircraft was registered in Poland on 30th May 2022 as SP-ASW(3).

Note that SP-ASW(1) was a CSS-13 biplane from 1954 to 1965 - SP-ASW(2) was a Mil Mi-2 from 1998 to 2011. 

 

Wilga 2000MA - G-RTRT

I recently visited the small airfield at Oaksey Park, a couple of miles south of Kemble airport ( Gloucestershire, UK ) and was lucky to see the only Wilga 2000 currently registered in the UK on maintenance - G-RTRT.

G-RTRT was built at the PZL factory at Warsaw-Okecie in 2006 and is construction number 00060021, ie #021.

This aircraft first flew in Spring 2006 registered in Poland as SP-WHO - it was exhibited at the Berlin ILA aero trade show in May 2006 painted all red with a yellow trim. The aircraft came to the UK shortly afterwards and was registered with the UK CAA on 8th June 2006 as G-RTRT owned by the local agent PZL International Aviation Marketing and Sales at North Weald airfield in Essex. 

In July 2007 this Wilga 2000 was sold by the local dealer to it's current owner in Gloucestershire ( note this owner had previously owned Wilga 2000MN G-RIIN c/n 010 ) - G-RTRT operates from a private strip not far from Oaksey Park.

Wilga G-RTRT does not fly a great deal - the UK CAA website shows that it had accumulated only 35 flying hours by December 2011 - as you can see from the photo it looks in perfect condition, the Lycoming engine virtually spotless.

At the moment G-RTRT is the only Wilga 2000 in the UK - the two previous examples G-RRIN and G-RIIN were both exported onto Canada.


Steve

Wilga 2000 - C-GRJK for sale

Currently shown for sale in Canada is PZL Okecie Wilga 2000 C-GRJK - there are some great photos of this aircraft operating in the rugged wilderness of Canada, on floats and with very large tundra tyres.

C-GRJK is c/n 00010014 and originally test flew as SP-WDR in June 2001  - it was exhibited at the Paris Air Show that same month painted in a red colour scheme. In early 2002 this Wilga 2000 was sold to the USA and became N214AL based in New Mexico - however in July 2003 it had an accident ending up going through a fence.

The damaged aircraft was rebuilt in Canada and ready to fly again by summer 2004 registered as C-GRJK.

See the link below for more details and to see the photos of C-GRJK operating in Canada.


http://www.aztecnomad.com/rjk_page.html



Steve