PZL M18 Dromader
| PZL M-18 Dromader | |
|---|---|
 M-18A, D-FOME |
|
| Type: | Agricultural and fire fighting aircraft |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
August 27, 1976 |
| Production time: |
since September 1978 |
| Number of pieces: |
approx. 750 |
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The PZL M-18 Dromader (Eng. " Dromedary ") is an agricultural aircraft produced by the Polish aircraft manufacturer PZL .
history
The low-wing aircraft was developed in the mid-1970s by PZL under the direction of Jósef Oleksiak in collaboration with the US company Rockwell International . The first of two prototypes had its maiden flight on August 27, 1976. In 1978 a fire extinguishing variant was added, which flew for the first time on November 11th. From 1984 the two-seater "A" variant was manufactured for Interflug , with a second seat for the station mechanic behind the cockpit.
From 1996 until today the "B" version is built at PZL. So far, around 750 M18 machines have been manufactured in different versions, including some double control versions for training ("AS" and "BS"). Iran is building small numbers of the M18B under license.
The fuselage of the aircraft is a tubular steel construction with a length of 9.50 meters. The span is 17.70 meters. The chemical tank of the "A" version has a capacity of 2700 liters. The payload is 1250 kg. The maximum take-off weight is 4200 kg.
The agricultural aircraft can apply liquid and solid fertilizers and is also used for fire fighting . For example, the Greek Air Force has 19 M18B and three M18BS in stock.
variants
The PZL M-21 Dromader Mini was a geometrically smaller version of the M-18 with a payload reduced by 150 kg. Two prototypes with a 441 kW PZL-3S engine were built. The first flight took place on June 18, 1982.
The PZL M-24 Dromader Super is an enlarged version with a payload of 2000 kg. Four prototypes of this were built. The first flight took place in 1987.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data M-18B |
|---|---|
| crew | 1 pilot |
| length | 9.47 m |
| span | 17.70 m |
| height | 3.70 m |
| Wing profile | NACA profile 4416 on the fuselage, 4412 on the wing tips |
| Wing area | 40.00 m² |
| Wing extension | 7.8 |
| Empty mass | 2710 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 5300 kg |
| Payload | 2200 kg (partly 1 passenger / technician) |
| Engine | a 9-cylinder radial engine WSK "PZL-Kalisz" ASz-62IR |
| Starting power | 980 PS (721 kW) |
| Cruising speed | 230 km / h |
| Top speed | 280 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 6500 m |
| Range | 970 km |
literature
- Wolfgang Zähle: A Polish export hit: PZL M-18 Dromader agricultural and fire-fighting aircraft. In: Fliegerrevue X. No. 82, PPV Medien, Bergkirchen 2020, ISSN 2195-1233 , pp. 58–69.
Web links
- EASA-TCDS-A.056 (PDF; 1.2 MB) - Type approval of the PZL M 18
- Type page M-18
- Manufacturer's website (accessed January 13, 2012)
- Website M21 Dromader Mini
Individual evidence
- ↑ FliegerRevue, December 2009, pp. 20–21, the only airworthy PZL M-21 Dromader Mini in Germany
- ^ Michael JH Taylor : Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000 . 2nd Edition. Brassey's, London 1999, ISBN 1-85753-245-7 , pp. 450 .