W3A Sokol Helicopter (Unusual Aircraft Collection)

A W3A Sokol ("falcon") helicopter of the Czech Air Force does a water bombing display at the 2006 Czech International Air Fair.

The Sokol was built by the Polish company PZL (short for "state aviation works"), which also made the very popular PZL-104 Wilga short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft.   The Sokol has received many export orders from countries like Germany, Italy, Russia, South Africa, Vietnam and South Korea.  Some are used by civilian operators and there are military versions performing duties such as search and rescue, medical evacuation, flying command and control, and even acting as a gunship with two 23mm cannon and other weapons mounted on pylons.