The first Black Hawk helicopter manufactured in Poland rolls off production lines at the PZL Mielec company plant.

The Polish aerospace manufacturer, based in the southern town of Mielec, will produce 36 helicopters a year. Black Hawk S-70 is a medium transport/utility helicopter, which can perform a wide range of missions, including air and electronic warfare and medical evacuation duties.

The Polish Black Hawk’s debut comes a year after the presentation of its cabin, manufactured entirely by Polish engineers.

“We needed the best specialists with high qualifications and skills in order to assemble a Black Hawk’s cabin which consists of 2400 parts,” says Bob Kokorda from the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, a company based in Statford, the US, which bought PZL Mielec in March 2007 for 250 million zloty (64 million euro).

“Polish employees are very efficient and their work is of high quality” added Kokorda.  

The demand for the helicopters around the world is estimated at about 500 machines a year. (mg)