PZL Mielec M-18 Dromader

Of the same overall configuration as the P.Z.L. 106 Kruk, the M-18 Dromader agricultural aircraft is not only considerably larger but was designed and built to meet US FAR Pt 23 requirements. It differs primarily by having an unswept cantilever monoplane wing and unswept horizontal tailplane surfaces, is powered by the uprated P.Z.L. ASz-621R engine, used in later versions of the Kruk, and pays particular attention to aircrew survival, the pilot being accommodated in a cockpit stressed to survive an impact of 40g. Special materials and treatment limit airframe corrosion to a minimum. Two prototypes were flown, on 27 August and 2 October 1976, these being followed by 10 pre-production aircraft, five of them used for operational trials, and two carrying out practical dusting and spraying operations in Egypt during the summer of 1978. Another was test flown (on 11 November 1978) as a firefighter to test the concept. Production of the M-18 began following the receipt of Polish certification on 27 September 1978, but came to an end in 1984, shortly after the M-18A two-seat version was certificated by the Polish authorities. A dedicated two-seat agricultural trainer, designated the M-18AS, was constructed with a smaller hopper to allow an instructor to sit behind the pilot, and flew for the first time on 21 March 1988. Five were built by 1992.

In 1985 construction began of five airframes of an improved M-24 Dromader Super, one intended as a static test specimen, two as flying prototypes with the 746kW ASz-621R engine, and another two with the 860kW P.Z.L. K9-AA engine. The first of these, flew on 14 July 1987 and all were flying by November 1988. However, no production of the type has so far been launched. The M-24T turboprop version, fitted with an 875kW PT6A engine in an extended nose, is planned, but only exists in mock-up form at present. Two prototypes of the scaled-down reduced-capacity M-21 Dromader Mini were flown, the first powered by a 447kW P.Z.L.-3S engine on 18 June 1982 followed by the second, fitted with a geared P.Z.L.-3SR version.

Although the type was provisionally certificated, no production has followed. The even smaller Dromader Mikro, proposed in 1982, did not proceed further.

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A three-view drawing (1200 x 1395)

lxbfYeaa, e-mail, 14.03.2024 Aleksandar

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