On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, the Armed Forces General Command (DG RSZ) announced on social media that the fleet of PZL SW-4 Puszczyk light training helicopters in the Air Force has surpassed 50,000 flight hours.
Photo: DG RSZ via X
“50,000 hours in the air! The SW-4 Puszczyk fleet has just crossed this impressive milestone! Huge applause for the pilots and technicians who make every takeoff and landing possible. Your daily service, precision, and dedication are the foundation of this success!” — reads the caption under a commemorative photo published by the Armed Forces General Command (DG RSZ) on the social media platform X.
The SW-4 Puszczyk is used for basic pilot training at the 41st Training Air Base in Dęblin. The helicopters are equipped with dual flight controls and cockpit instrumentation compatible with NVG and IFR operations (night vision and instrument flight).
The aircraft partially replaced the Mi-2 in the Air Force as basic training helicopters—24 units were ordered under the Pogoria program, with deliveries taking place between 2006 and 2010. One aircraft, however, was written off: serial number 6605 (manufacturer’s number 660205), which was involved in an accident on October 25, 2018, near the village of Sarnaki during a training flight. The Puszczyk was also offered by Leonardo to the Republic of Korea, without success.
In 2012, the Polish Air Force Academy (formerly the Air Force Officer School, now Lotnicza Akademia Wojskowa, LAW) received a dedicated helicopter simulator developed by ETC-PZL Aerospace Industries (PZL-Świdnik to service three three types of Polish military helicopters).
Photo: Michał Adamowski, MILMAG
Currently, at the Academic Aviation Training Center (ACSL) under the Polish Air Force University (LAW), training flights on the SW-4 are conducted after completing the initial course on the R44 Raven II.
The latest developmental variant is the SW-4 Solo, developed as a RUAS/OPH (Rotorcraft Unmanned Air System / Optionally Piloted Helicopter). The Solo was unveiled at the MSPO 2012 defense exhibition in Kielce. It was the result of collaboration between Polish and Italian engineers. Factory testing of the SW-4 Solo began in December 2016 at the Taranto-Grottaglie Airport in Italy. In 2020, it participated in maritime trials as part of the European OCEAN 2020 program.
The SW-4 is expected to be replaced by a new helicopter within an integrated training system for combat helicopter pilots, which envisions the procurement of 24 units. Bids were submitted by: Airbus Helicopters (with Babcock International and CAE Inc.), Wytwórnia Sprzętu Komunikacyjnego PZL-Świdnik, Polskie Zakłady Lotnicze in Mielec, Elbit Systems Ltd., International Defense & Aerospace Group LLC, Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa, ETC-PZL Aerospace Industries, Bell Textron Inc., and a consortium comprising: DM-MSB (lead), the Air Force Institute of Technology (ITWL), Motor Sich, and Level 11.
50 000 godzin w powietrzu! Flota SW-4 #Puszczyk właśnie przekroczyła ten imponujący próg!
✔️ Ogromne brawa dla pilotów i techników, dzięki którym każdy start i lądowanie są możliwe. Wasza codzienna służba, precyzja i zaangażowanie to fundament tego sukcesu! pic.twitter.com/gUeryi20iZ
— Dowództwo Generalne (@DGeneralneRSZ) June 4, 2025