TYPE: Basic jet trainer.
PROGRAMME: Started as private venture under project name Iskra II, but renamed Bielik (a native Polish eagle) after press competition before public debut third quarter 2001 at exhibitions in Katowice and Radom. First flight (prototype SP-YEM) was then anticipated before and of 2001, but delayed by engine installation problems. Transported to Mielec for pre-flight preparation and tests in November 2002; first flight deferred until end of Polish winter; achieved 4 June 2003.
CURRENT VERSIONS: Bielik: Military basic and advanced training version, aimed at Polish and foreign air forces as low weight and cost pilot trainer.
Fenix (English name Phoenix): Civil general aviation version, including aerobatics; intended for export.
DESIGN FEATURES: Low T-O weight achieved by rejection of onboard armament in favour of electronic combat application simulation system. Mid-wing, blended wing/body design with forward-extending curved strakes; twin outward-canted fins and rudders. Designed for high-g and high-AoA manoeuvres.
Supercritical wing and tailplane aerofoil section, thickness/chord ratio 6 per cent; wing anhedral 3° 30'; tailplane anhedral 10°.
FLYING CONTROLS: Manual, with hydraulically boosted all-moving slab tailplane, with electrically actuated tabs, for pitch and roll control; twin rudders deffect outwards only. Full-span leading- and trailing-edge flaps.
STRUCTURE: All-composites (carbon fibre and epoxy resin) stressed-skin sandwich over most of airframe. Single-spar wing.
LANDING GEAR: Hydraulically retractable tricycle type, with single wheel on each unit. Wheel sizes main 49.5 cm (19½ in), nose 15.2 cm (6 in). Mainwheels retract rearward, nosewheel forward. Mainwheel disc brakes.
POWER PLANT: One 12.75 to 17.65 kN (2,866 to 3,968 lb st) class turbojet in production aircraft; prototype has 13,52 kN (3,040 lb st) General Electric CJ610-6. Thrust vector control planned for production aircraft. Two fuel tanks in tandem in centre-fuselage, combined capacity 1,100 litres (291 US gallons; 242 Imp gallons).
ACCOMMODATION: Crew of two in tandem, on zero/zero ejection seats (zero height/150 kt; 278 km/h; 173 mph in prototype), in pressurised cockpit.
SYSTEMS: Hydraulic system, pressure 140 bar (2,030 lb/sq in), for landing gear, flap, airbrake and wheel brake actuation and slab tailplane control booster. Pneumatic system for emergency operation of trailing-edge flaps, landing gear extension and mainwheel brakes. 28 V DC electrical system. Crew oxygen system. Cockpit pressurisation system.
AVIONICS: Bielik basic trainer and Fenix to have standard nav/com avionics. Bielik advanced trainer version planned to be equipped with combat application electronic simulations of armament operation; real or virtual, radar- and IR-based observation and sighting systems; evaluation of sighting and weapon delivery techniques; and hostile air defence facilities.
