You can also look forward to the Polish Orlik Team
Those visitors who have a weakness for acrobatic groups will surely enjoy this performance. The Orlik Team is guaranteed not to disappoint...
SIAF International Aviation Days have their charm in that, both in the air and on the ground, visitors can enjoy a truly global airshow. SIAF would not be SIAF if our neighbours from the Polish Air Force did not also perform at the air days. They will arrive at Kuchyna/Malacky Airport on 4-5. September 2021 on seven PZL-130 Orlik aircraft as the aerobatic group Orlik Team, which we are sure each of you knows well.
23 years on the scene
The Orlik Aerobatic Team (Zespół Akrobacyjny “ORLIK” ) is an aerobatic team of the Polish Air Force, formed on 1 January 1998, when the Commander of the Air Force Officers' College issued an order to establish a display team flying the PZL-130. Like another Polish aerobatic team "Iskra", this new team was given the name of its aircraft - “Orlik”.
The first appearance of the Orlik Team took place shortly after its formation, on 15 April 1998 at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford. The team initially consisted of four pilots, three formation pilots and one solo pilot. An additional solo pilot was later added and by the end of 2000 the team had grown to seven aircraft. Although in some seasons they flew nine aircraft together, from 2011 the team closed to number seven.
Interesting facts from history
At the beginning of the 2006 season, the team was in danger of folding due to financial reasons. However, no final decision was made, but the team was suspended until June 2007. Their first public appearance after the suspension took place at the 2007 Radom Air Show.
The team usually flew only five PZL-130 "Orlik" TC-I and two PZL-130 "Orlik" TC-II, although they sometimes performed with six TC-I and one TC-II.
In mid-2009, after a hiatus of almost four years, the team began training once more with a formation of nine aircraft, and their first public appearance again with nine aircraft took place on 15 August. The "Orlik" team also cancelled the use of both TC-IIs and reverted to the PZL-130 Orlik TC-I, for all positions. This decision was made because of the problems in performing formation aerobatics with essentially two different types of aircraft. The PZL-130 Orlik TC-II is virtually a new aircraft with a new engine and improved wings with a larger wingspan and thus different flight characteristics.
