PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader#Variants
{{Short description|Agricultural aircraft in Poland}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = M-18 Dromader
|image = File:PZL-Mielec M-18B Dromader, Greece - Air Force (cropped).jpg
|caption = M-18B Dromader in flight
|type = Utility aircraft
|national_origin =Poland
|manufacturer = PZL-Mielec
|designer =
|first_flight = 27 August 1976
|introduction =
|retired =
|status = Active, in production
|primary_user =
|more_users =
|produced = 1976-present
|number_built = 759+
|unit cost =
|developed_from =Rockwell Thrush Commander
|developed_into = PZL-Mielec M-21 Dromader Mini
PZL-Mielec M-24 Dromader Super
PZL-Mielec M-25 Dromader Mikro
|variants =
}}
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. In 2008, fifteen were sold to China. In 2012, PZL-Mielec was still selling models M-18B and M-18BS, with 759 built in total.[http://www.pzlmielec.pl/oferta/produkty/m18-dromader/opis-ogolny/ M-18 Dromader on PZL Mielec homepage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231171756/http://www.pzlmielec.pl/oferta/produkty/m18-dromader/opis-ogolny |date=2017-12-31 }} [retrieved 24-1-2012] {in Polish} {{Asof|2017}}, the Dromader was sold by PZL-Mielec, but the production has been halted.Gruszczyński, Jerzy. W pierwszej lidze dostawców, "Lotnictwo Aviation International" Nr. 9/2017, p. 35-36 (in Polish) The produced aircraft are still refurbished instead, with new engines (produced by WSK "PZL-Kalisz"). There are plans to acquire rights and renew the production in WZL-2 in Bydgoszcz.
Variants
File:PZL-M18 SP-ZWE IMGP2950.JPG
;M-18:original one-seat production version, {{As of|2002|alt=now}} available for special orders only.
;M-18A:two seater available from 1984 onwards. Allows a mechanic or chemical loader to be carried as a passenger to remote fields.
;M-18AS:two-cockpit trainer version
;M-18B:refined version of M-18A with increased capacity, flown in 1993.
;M-18BS:two-cockpit trainer.
;M-18C:version with more powerful 895 kW (1,200 hp) Kalisz K-9 engine. Flown in 1995 but not produced.
;AII AVA-303:The M-18 is being built in Iran as the AVA-303.
Operators
=Military=
File:Piknik Lotniczy PZL-M-18 Dromader (cropped).jpg
;{{flag|Croatia}}
- Croatian Air Force - Former operator.
;{{GRE}}
;{{MNE}}
;{{SRB}} - Agricultural Aviation
=Civil=
The Dromader is in service with aerial agriculture and other companies in many countries, operating in a variety of roles. The former Yugoslav Airline, Jugoslovenski Aerotransport, used it for cropspraying. Turkish Aeronautical Association uses it for firefighting.
Specifications (M18B Dromader)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004,Jackson 2003, pp. 338–339. Jane's all the World's Aircraft 2004-05,{{cite book |title=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 2004-05 |editor1-last=Jackson |editor1-first=Paul |year=2005 |publisher=Jane's Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=0-7106-2614-2|pages=360–361}}Taylor 1999, p.450. (M-18A)
|prime units?=met
|crew=1 / 2 (M18BS)
|capacity={{convert|2500|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}} liquid or {{convert|2200|kg|abbr=on}} 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={{convert|510|kg|abbr=on}} max fuel weight
|more general=
|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
|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=
|ceiling m=6500
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=+3.4 / -1.4
|roll rate=
|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
{{Aircontent|
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|sequence=
|lists=
|see also=
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Refbegin}}
- Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. {{ISBN|0-7106-2537-5}}.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999. {{ISBN|1-85753-245-7}}.
{{Refend}}
External links
{{Commons category|PZL M18 Dromader}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110720124520/http://www.pzlmielec.pl/en/offer/products/m18-dromader/general-description/ PZL-Mielec page]
- [http://dromader-mini.info/ PZL M21 Dromader Mini] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217080517/http://dromader-mini.info/ |date=2014-12-17 }}
{{PZL aircraft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pzl-Mielec M-18 Dromader}}
Category:1970s Polish agricultural aircraft
Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft
Category:Aerial firefighting aircraft
Category:Aircraft first flown in 1976