Kraków 2018-11-30
323 Section 2016-11-14.
Leonardo (Alenia-Aermacchi) M-346 Master – Bielik in Poland.
The M-346 Bielik is an advanced training aircraft that can be upgraded to a combat support version. Poland is a user of 12 training planes.
Leonardo M-346 Master in Poland.
On November 14, 2016, the first two Leonardo M-346 Master Nb 7702 and 7703 planes, intended for the Polish Air Force, landed in Dęblin. Already at that time, as a result of the competition, a proper name was chosen for these modern and nice training and training aircraft: Bielik. In Dęblin, preparations were made for the ceremonial naming of the planes. However, the ceremony did not take place, because the planes were not picked up by the Polish side due to incomplete software simulating the use of on-board weapons. The planes were collected and at the beginning of 2018, training flights began on them. The baptism ceremony is planned for the fall of 2018, as another celebration of the 100th anniversary of Poland regaining its independence.
On November 24, 2018 (Saturday) in Dęblin at the School of Eaglets, the ceremony of giving the name took place. The ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic of Poland, Mr. Andrzej Duda, and his wife, Mrs. Agata Kornhauser – Duda. The following persons were also present: the Chief of the National Security Bureau, Mr. Paweł Soloch, the Secretary of State in the Ministry of National Defense, Mr. Wojciech Skurkiewicz, the Italian Ambassador Mr. Aldo Amati, General Commander of the Armed Forces, Mr. Gen. Jarosław Mika, Rector – Commander of the Aviation Military Academy, Brig. pil. Dr. Piotr Krawczyk, Defense Attache at the Embassy of the Italian Republic Mr. Colonel Davide Di Bartolo, Military Attaché at the American Embassy Colonel John Downey, Air Attache at the American Embassy Colonel Jarin Thayn and representatives of the M-346 aircraft manufacturer Mr. Riccardo Busco and Mr. Umberto Rossi.
The General Commander of the Armed Forces (Armed Forces), Gen. Jarosław Mika, submitted a report of readiness to the ceremony to the President of the Republic of Poland. The Polish anthem was played. There were short speeches. It was emphasized that the new aircraft were a new quality, and that the PZL TS-11 Iskra aircraft, used by the Polish Air Force for 54 years, would finally be changed.
Agata Kornhauser – Duda is the godmother of the plane. She said the sentence – "Fly around Poland and the world, praise the name of the Polish Aviator, bring glory to the Republic of Poland. I name you BIELIK, ”and she tore the white and red sash off the plane.
All M-346 Bielik planes in Dęblin were blessed by the dean of the Air Force and chaplains of the Polish Army. The guests who attended the ceremony had the opportunity to visit the Air Force Museum in Dęblin.
Today, the M-346 Master is one of the most technologically advanced training and training aircraft in the world, and the comprehensive training system is the pinnacle of aviation, engineering and information technology. There will be 12 of them in Dęblin.
These 54 years of operation of the PZL TS-11 Iskra aircraft are a reason to be proud of the Polish Aviation Industry. This is a sign that even in communist times, our engineers, led by Tadeusz Sołtyk, were able to create a good plane that surpassed other designs created in communist countries. We remind you that the USAF Northrop T-38 Talon aircraft and its modifications have been in operation for 59 years. The flight of the T-38 prototype took place on March 10, 1959.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman