Ukrainian Motor Sich company was Re-engine the Polish PZL W-3 Sokol helicopter. The first photo of improved variant of  Polish PZL W-3 Sokol helicopter was spotted at Zaporozhye Engine-Building Plant.

Ukrainian engine producer Motor Sich is developing a new version of the MC-500B turboshaft engine. The new version, МС-500В-03 powered the twin-engine utility helicopter PZL W-3A Sokol produced by the Polish OEM, PZL-Swidnik (part of Leonardo, formerly Finmeccanica).

The МС-500В-03 will have a nominal thrust of 1100 hp. It will be built around the core of the MC-500B-01, the engine that received the Interstate Aviation Committee’s certification at the end of April.

W-3A Sokol is currently equipped with PZL-10W. The model is derived from the Soviet TVD-10 turboshaft engine, and produced in Poland by WSK PZL — Rzeszów, a part of Pratt & Whitney. Its nominal thrust is 888 hp. Industry experts believe that equipping the helicopter with a more powerful engine will require redesign of the main gear-box.

The МС-500В-01 modification, with 810 hp thrust, is intended for helicopters with 4.5-5 tons MTOW, such as the Sikorsky S-76A/С/D. The Ukrainian OEM is currently planning to introduce one more member of the family, the 950 hp МС-500В-02. The series feature a radial compressor with an 11.2 compression ratio.

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