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HISTORY
 Mielec is a town of around 70 thousand inhabitants, situated in the South-East of Poland. Until 1938 Mielec had been a sleepy, provincial town with population employed mostly in agriculture and craftsmanship. This picture changed dramatically with decision of Poland's pre-war Government to establish, as part of the nation's defence effort, a so-called Central Industrial Circuit (COP), one of its pillars being the National Aviation Factory (PZL) built from "scratch" in Mielec. The new facility, constructed at a speed commanding admiration even today, was soon to become a driving force stimulating rapid growth of the nearby city, and the industrial, intellectual and cultural development of the region around.
Astounding as it is, the plant came on stream within a year from its establishment, yielding a series of the then-advanced technology "LOS" ("MOOSE") bomber.
Soon afterwards, the WW II breaks out, but the Factory's operations are continued under the Nazi occupation with repair/overhaul work for German Luftwaffe war planes (mainly Heinkel 11 and Ju-52).
After the war, the Factory returns onto the national economy map manufacturing a variety of commercial products, such as this small MIKRUS car, trucks, cable cars, and even household appliances, while undertaking mass production of Soviet-design MIG-15 and MIG-17 fighters.
Over its more than 60 years in aviation business, the Mielec Factory has been engaged in production of worldwide popular aircraft, such as the Antonov-design An-2 utility plane, a record-breaker with the figure of over 12 thousand units produced. Even though its production was terminated back in 1991, the type invariably enjoys affection of its fans, as proved by annual fly-in jamborees of its operators. In 1997 an An-2 successfully completed a round-the-world flight, quite an exploit for this vigorous "oldie".
With time designs of Polish engineers entered production, such as a single-engined jet trainer TS-11 ISKRA (SPARK), still in service with Poland's and India's Airforce.
Some of the aircraft, like these two birds were stepping stones for the Mielec Factory designers on their way to successful projects in the future.
In the 70's the Factory was a nest-place for the so far "one and only" jet-powered M15 ag plane of Soviet design), whose looks the local population found to be so repulsive that it was dubbed BELPHEGOR.
However, the experience accumulated along the M15 design process helped to built Mielec-own M18 DROMADER ag plane.
Aviation business continued to thrive in Mielec with new aircraft production filling-in the facility, thus promoting expansion. These were An-28's licence production, M20 MEWA executive/ambulance light transport airplane, and huge empennage units for two large YLYUSHIN IL-86 and IL-96 airbus-class airplanes.
Before the breakthrough year of 1989, the Factory's production was destined mainly for Poland's military and former Soviet-bloc countries.
The radical political and economic transformations have entirely changed the Company's market position and forced search for new customers for its existing products, as well as development of new projects. Facing the challenge, the Factory design bureau came out with new airplanes: primary trainer M26 ISKIERKA, M93M, passenger/cargo M28 "SKYTRUCK" and maritime patrol M28B BRYZA, which soon entered series production.
The next step was embarking on a restructuring program implemented along the guidelines set by Poland's Government. That was mostly a "leaning" process, whereby in October 1998 an entirely new business entity - Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze Co. Ltd. - was established.
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