Kraków 2015-08-18
Polish Aviation Industry – Part 18
PZL- Kalisz
During the German occupation in Kalisz, in 1941, an industrial plant was established, which took the name "Zollern – Werke – Weser Flug". The main task of the plant was the repair of military vehicles for the needs of the eastern front. Mainly trucks and their engines were repaired here. As the front line approached, the plant was evacuated. Some of the machines were taken to the depths of the Rajah. The plant was taken over by the Russians, and at the beginning of 1946 it was transferred to the Polish administration and the factory was nationalized. According to the profile of the plant (car repair), it was named Państwowe Zakłady Samochodowe. The plant operated in this formula in the period 1946-1949. In 1949, the plant changed its name to Zakłady Urządzeń Samochodowego (1949–1951), then to Kaliskie Zakłady Naprawy Samochodowego (1951–1952). At that time, the plant specialized in the repair of internal combustion engines. Many engine components were made from scratch at the plant, so that the refurbished engines were almost new products.
As a result of increasing international tension, the plant started overhauling aircraft engines. In June 1952, the plant was re-branded and received the name WSK (Wytwórnia Urządzeń Komunikacyjnego) Delta-Kalisz, which was relatively quickly changed to WSK PZL Kalisz. The company was included in the group of plants of the aviation and engine industry. For obvious reasons, the machinery and equipment park had to be expanded.
The PZL Kalisz plant is engaged in the production of aircraft engines as well as parts and components for the aviation industry. He also performed comprehensive engine repairs and regeneration of parts.
The plant exists to date (2020). Its main product is the ASz-62 IR engine. The ASz-62 IR engine was and is widely used in aircraft built in Poland: An-2, PZL M 18 Dromader, PZL-106 Kruk. A great achievement of the plant was the use of the ASz-62 IR engine to drive the Airtech Canada DHC-3/1000 Otter. The modification was made by Airtech Canada and consisted in the use of the PZL Kalisz Asz-62 IR engine with the power of 746 kW (1,000 HP).
The ASz-62 IR engine was produced in many versions. He works on aviation fuel, motor gasoline and alternative fuels. In 2013, PZL Kalisz presented a version of the ASz-62 IR-16E engine with electronic fuel injection (without carburetor). All control is electronic and designed by scientists from the Lublin University of Technology. By the way, the service life has been extended and the engine has more power. Its production started in 2015. The engine price is over PLN 300,000.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman