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PW-5 News


Swidnik, Autumn 2000: The Egyptian Aviation Ministry has placed eight firm orders with PZL-Swidnik for their World Class aircraft, and reserved options on a further 40.
The eight ordered so far are four PW-5 and four PW-6, the two-seater version that has just received certification. As a dual-package PZL-Swidnik are currently offering the PW-5 and PW-6 together for 100,000 DM (plus tax). The first eight PW will be delivered to Egypt in October. Egypt wants the other 40 machines to be delivered in kit-form so they can do the final assembly themselves. The aircraft are intended for training purposes in Egyptian flying clubs.'


Subject: New Gliding World Record Attempt - 31 May 1999
From:  FAI Secretariat <info@fai.org>

FAI has received the following Class D (Gliders) record claim :
====================================================================
Claim number 6130 :
Sub-class DW (World Class Gliders)
General Category
Type of record : Distance over a triangular course
Course/location : Vogtareuth (Germany)
Performance : 622 km
Pilot : Diether MEMMERT (Germany)
Glider : PW-5
Date : 27.05.1999
Current record: no record registered yet


Subject: New Gliding World Record Attempts - 21 May 1999

FAI has received the following Class D (Gliders) record claims :
====================================================================
Claim number 6122 :
Sub-class DW (World Class Gliders)
General Category
Type of record : Straight distance to a declared goal
Course/location : Tucson, AZ (USA)
Performance : 558 km
Pilot : Michael Noel PARKER (USA)
Glider : PW-5
Date : 15.05.1999

Current record: no record registered yet
====================================================================
Claim number 6123 :
Sub-class DW (World Class Gliders)
General Category
Type of record : Straight distance
Course/location : Tucson, AZ (USA)
Performance : 620 km
Pilot : Michael Noel PARKER (USA)
Glider : PW-5
Date : 15.05.1999

Current record: no record registered yet
====================================================================


Subject: New Gliding World Record Attempts - 17 May 1999
From: FAI Secretariat <info@fai.org>

FAI has received the following class D (Gliding) record claims :

====================================================================
Claim number 6071 :
Sub-class DW (World Class Gliders)
General Category
Type of record : Three Turn Points Distance
Course/location : Leszno (Poland)
Performance : 591.2 km
Pilot : Zbigniew NIERADKA (Poland)
Glider : PW-5
Date : 05.05.1999
====================================================================
Claim number 6072 :
Sub-class DW (World Class Gliders)
General Category
Type of record : Three Turn Points Distance
Course/location : Leszno (Poland)
Performance : 591.2 km
Pilot : Sebastian KAWA (Poland)
Glider : PW-5
Date : 05.05.1999
====================================================================

The details shown above are provisional. When all the evidence required has been received and checked, the exact figures will be established and the records ratified (if appropriate).

The complete list of Gliding World Records and record claims pending ratification can be consulted on the Web at :

http://www.fai.org/gliding/records/


Saturday, May 15, 1999 8:39 PM
Subject: World class free distance record

Mike Parker from Tucson, AZ is claiming a free distance record in the world class. His flight on May 15, 1999 was from El Tiro Gliderport, NW of Tucson, AZ to  37 miles east of Moriarty, NM for approximately 400 miles. The flight was on his PW-5 N382RG and last about 7.5 hours. An official record claim will follow. Could you please inform the FAI that a world class free distance record is being claimed.

The official observer for Mike Parker's flight was Mr. William Rogers also from Tucson, AZ.

From: Nilton O. Renno


Tue, 17 Nov 1998:  US Type Certificate (from: Theodore Grussing theo@sedona.net)

To PW-5 owners and those interested in the World Class Program

At long last there has been cooperation with PZL Swidnik and the Polish GICA. The new USA manuals for the PW-5 have been approved by the GICA as requested by the FAA and the approved manuals are being sent back to the FAA today. This completes all requirements for issuance of the Type Certificate in the United States. At long last it appears that we are looking at issuance of the TC. It has been a difficult struggle, but we have pushed very hard on all fronts to get it. The process had totally stalled out and was on everyones back burner when we took the project over earlier this year. Barring any unforeseen new developements the TC will issue by the end of this month.

On the PW-6; the Polish Type Certificate is due to issue 2nd or 3rd quarter 1999. Serial production is expected to begin 3rd quarter of 1999. The price has not yet been established, but we expect the price to be in the low 40's ex works and with basic instruments at both seats.

The altitude restriction is still in place on the PW-5, and PZL Swidnik appears to be completely stalled on this issue. We have offered to host the tests in the USA, thanks to the kind offer by John Duprey of Peak Soaring, Inc - we offered to provide their team with room and board, ground transportation, aircraft, tows and all equipment necessary; all they had to do was to get their people here - this went nowhere. Tore Skaar has offered to host the tests in Norway or Sweden but has had no luch either. To have this restriction on the PW-5 is ridiculous, and we would like to have all of you start a letter writing campaign to get them off dead center. The World Class Glider, was not to have an altitude restriction on it and the possibility or authorization for it does not exist in the agreement with the FAI.

Please write to Ryszard Cukierman, Commercial Director; Marek Mikosz, Glider Program Manager; Dariusz E. Staszczak, Marketing Manager. The Fax # for Cukierman and Mikosz is (International Access) 48.81.468.0919; for Staszczak it is 48.81.468.0918. The address for mailing is: PZL Swidnik SA, Al. Lotnikow Polskich 1, PL-21-045 Swidnik, Poland. Hopefully a strong letter writing campaign from owners of PW-5's and those interested in the World Class Program will get them off dead center - five years with a restriction like this is inexcusable.

Best regards

G & K Aviation, LLC
Sole USA Agents for PZL Swidnik, SA
Ted Grussing Elemer Katinszky Steven Oldham


April 1, 1998 FAI NEWS

2nd WORLD AIR GAMES - DECISION TIME NEARS

The race to host the 2nd World Air Games in 2001 has reached the home straight, and three bidders remain in contention: Austria, Spain and Turkey. At the round of negotiations held in Paris on 28/29 March, Poland withdrew its candidacy for 2001, and announced a firm intention to bid for the 3rd World Air Games in 2005. Good progress was made on planning for media coverage of the Games, including TV, public relations and advertising.

FAI Air Sport Commission experts are working intensively with bidders on the technical requirements for the WAG events, to enable final candidate files to be completed by 30 April. A final round of negotiations, focusing on the financial structure, will be held on 14/15 May. All is set fair for a final decision on the host country for the 2nd World Air Games to be made by the FAI
Council in Paris on 29 May 1998.


March 31, 1998

The 200th PW-5 with serial number 17.10.021 was manufactured by PZL Swidnik for a customer in Brazil on March 24, 1998.
73 gliders of the PW-5 type are planned to be delivered by the end of 1998, plus 6 new double-seaters PW-6


March 6, 1998 Re: US Type Certification of PW-5 (from Ted Grussing)

G & K Aviation, LLC, is pleased to announce that we have resolved all issues with the FAA which have acted as obstacles in the USA certification process of the PW-5 Smyk World Class Glider.
With these issues resolved, the FAA Project Engineer responsible for the certification of the PW-5 will finally be able to make a trip to Poland in April and will meet with PZL Swidnik representatives and inspect the facilities. We expect that the type certificate will issue shortly after his return from that trip.

We are continuing our efforts to have the 5,000 meter altitude restriction removed and expect to have that issue resolved prior to July 1, 1998.Beginning in April 1998, all PW-5's coming in to the USA will have altimeters that are one revolution per thousand feet. We are also working on an oxygen system and issues relating to the rudder springs and other minor items. We are trying to complete these projects on a priority basis relative to the importance of the issue.

The PW-6 program now appears to be on track, and we will be working closely with the FAA to try and have a simultaneous issuance of type certificate and availability of the aircraft. This will in some respects be an easier project since we are involved almost from the beginning.

We are diligently proceeding to insure the success of the World Class in this country. We have three great dealers who are stocking PW-5's so that you will be able to get delivery of your glider when you want it. They are also all selling trailers and other accessories. We are also working with the WCSA - it is vital to the success of this class.

Our dealers are as follows:
Peak Soaring, Inc., John Duprey
60298 Highway 50, Bldg. #30, Penrose, Colorado 81240
Voice 719.784.9536; Fax 719.784.9535; Email PkSoaring@aol.com

SZD Sailplanes, Inc., Mike Salcito
118 Lee Parky Drive #308, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Voice 423.490.1246; Fax 423.510.9878; Email szd@voy.net

Uvalde Soaring Association/Sierra Industries, Inc., Jon Jones
P.O. Box 5184, Uvalde, Texas 78802
Voice 830.278.4481 Fax 830.278.7649; Email jon@sijet.com

Best regards from

Ted Grussing, Esq. and Elemer Katinszky, P.E., Principals of
G & K Aviation, LLC
Exclusive agents in the United States for PZL Swidnik, S.A.


February 20, 1998: USA Type Certification for PW-5 (from Ted Grussing)

We have several items of interest to report to owners and others interested in the PW-5 program in the United States.

G & K Aviation, LLC is the agent for PZL Swidnik SA in the Untied States. The assignment of the contract from theo Designs, LLC has been approved by the Board of Directors of PZL Swidnik SA.

On February 19, the Board of Directors of PZL Swidnik appointed G & K Aviation, LLC, and it's principals, Theodore Grussing, Esq. and Elemer Katinszky, PE, FAA Consultant DER, to act on it's behalf in obtaining a Type Certificate for both the PW-5 and the PW-6. This resolution was transmitted by Fax to the Project Engineer at the FAA responsible for the PW-5. Elemer Katinszky has had substantive talks with the FAA regarding the status of the process, and we are moving forward with the project. We expect to receive type certification for the PW-5 not later than July 1, 1998.

We want to thank Jim Hogue of NH Aviation, who has been so helpful in educating us in what has been done re certification in the past and in other countries. - Thank you Jim, it helped get us up to speed in a much shorter time than otherwise would have been possible!!!

On all new PW-5's coming into the United States after March 1, 1998, we plan to bring them in with a TSO'd altimeter with 1M' per revolution calibrated to 35M' installed in place of the PZL altimeter with 3M' per revolution.

Parts will be brought in with containers of PW-5's beginning this spring; we plan to also keep one or two canopies in stock. All parts will be available through our dealers - please contact them for your needs. Our dealers, Peak Soaring, Inc., SZD Sailplanes, and Uvalde Soaring Assn/Sierra Industries, Inc. have all got inventory ready to deliver and more on the way later this spring and summer. They are also working with WCSA to promote the class by sponsoring events for the World Class.

Help support the class, join the WCSA if you have not already done so and participate in all the World Class events you can. The World Class in the United States is truly fortunate to have dedicated and enthusiastic dealers for the PW-5 and soon the PW-6. Exciting times are ahead.

The time table for the PW-6 program is not yet fixed, but we are expecting serial production to begin late 4th qtr in 1998 or 1st qtr 1999. Funding for the program is being worked on. Since we have been designated to do the type certification for the PW-6 also, we expect certification almost simultaneous with delivery of the first units in the USA.

Thanks and we'll keep you posted as we have more information of interest.

Ted Grussing & Elemer Katinszky
G & K Aviation, LLC

PW-5 N927PW


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