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The PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader (English: "Dromedary") is a single engine agricultural aircraft that is manufactured by PZL-Mielec in Poland. The aircraft is used mainly as a cropduster or firefighting machine.

Development

PZL-Mielec, then known as WSK-Mielec, began to design the Dromader in the mid 1970s, with help of United States aircraft manufacturer Rockwell International. PZL-Mielec asked for Rockwell's help because of the political situation at the time: operating in an Eastern Bloc country, PZL wanted the aircraft to sell well worldwide, and the company realized that certification by the United States Federal Aviation Administration would be important in reaching that goal. Rockwell on the other hand wanted to fit Polish high-power radial engines into its agricultural planes. As a result of this cooperation the Rockwell Thrush Commander aircraft was fitted with the PZL-3 engine, and the Polish designers created the higher payload M-18 Dromader by introducing the more powerful ASz-62 engine, making structural changes to the airframe, and increasing dimensions. The cooperation led to the Dromader sharing outer wing panels and part of the fuselage with the Thrush Commander.

The first prototype of the aircraft flew on August 27, 1976. In September 1978, the aircraft was given certification to fly in Poland. Certifications from many countries around the world followed soon.

During the 1980s, PZL envisaged a family of related designs based on the M-18, optimised for different capacities. The M-21 Dromader Mini and M-24 Dromader Super flew in prototype form, and a M-25 Dromader Mikro was designed. However, none of these saw production.

Many aircraft of the M-18 type and its variations can still be seen around the world. They were sold to 24 countries, over 200 are used in the US. , the Dromader was sold by PZL-Mielec, but the production has been halted. The produced aircraft are still refurbished instead, with new engines (produced by WSK "PZL-Kalisz"). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 2004-05,

|prime units?=met

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General characteristics

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|crew=1 / 2 (M18BS)

|capacity= liquid or dry chemical in fibreglass hopper forward of the cockpit (smaller hopper in M18BS)

|length m=9.47

|span m=17.7

|height m=3.7

|height note=to tailfin on ground

|wing area sqm=40

|aspect ratio=7.8

|airfoil=root:NACA 4416; tip:NACA 4412 outer wing panels

|empty weight kg=2710

|gross weight kg=

|gross weight lb=

|gross weight note=

|max takeoff weight kg=4200

|fuel capacity= max fuel weight

|more general=

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Powerplant

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|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=PZL Kalisz ASz-621R

|eng1 type=9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine

|eng1 kw=731

|prop blade number=4

|prop name=PZL Warszawa AW-2-30

|prop dia m=3.3

|prop dia note=constant speed aluminium alloy propeller

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Performance

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|max speed kmh=200

|max speed note=with agricultural equipment

|cruise speed kmh=

|cruise speed mph=

|cruise speed kts=

|cruise speed note=

|stall speed kmh=108

|stall speed note=flaps down

|never exceed speed kmh=280

|range km=970

|ferry range km=2000

|ferry range note=with hopper fuel tank

|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->

|ceiling m=6500

|ceiling ft=

|ceiling note=

|g limits=+3.4 / -1.4

|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->

|climb rate ms=6.5

|time to altitude=

|wing loading kg/m2=105

|fuel consumption kg/km=

|fuel consumption lb/mi=

|power/mass=5.75 kg/kW (11.92 lb/hp)

|more performance=

|avionics=

See also

References

  • Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. .
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999. .
  • PZL-Mielec page
  • PZL M21 Dromader Mini