| M-18 Dromader | |
|---|---|
| M-18B Dromader used in South Dakota | |
| Role | Utility aircraft |
| Manufacturer | PZL-Mielec |
| First flight | 27 August 1976 |
| Number built | > 740 |
The PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader (Polish: '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.
Contents |
This PZL-Mielec M18 Dromader came to Hungary in 1994. She flew in Slovakia and Czech Republic as an agricultural plane before. In Hungary she stations in Mez. This AD applies to all PZL M18 and M18A aircraft fitted with DGAC-Spain STC Nos. 83-S, 87-S, 88-S, 89-S, 101-S, 102-S and 130-S. Requirement: Action in accordance with EASA Emergency AD 2006-0229-E (Corrected) effective 28 July 2006. 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.
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 FAA certification 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. This co-operation meant that the Dromader shares outer wing panels and part of a 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.
Many aircraft of the M-18 type and its variations can still be seen around the world. They were sold to 24 countries, 200 are used in the USA.
Most Dromaders are easy to distinguish because of their yellow color. Over 740 had been built by 2006. Currently (2006) models M-18B and M-18BS are offered by PZL-Mielec.
Variants
- M-18 - original one-seat production version, 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.
- M-18/T45 Turbine Dromader - turboprop powered with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-45 engine. First flew in 1985 and was given FAA certification in April 1986.
- M-21 Dromader Mini - smaller variant (1100 kg of chemicals), flown in 1982, not produced.
- M-24 Dromader Super - bigger variant (2000 kg of chemicals), flown in 1987, not produced.
- M-25 Dromader Mikro - smaller variant (500 kg of chemicals), sketch only.
Operators
- Argentina
- Australia
- AGA Services
- Dunn's Aviation
- Leafair
- Northhampton Holdings
- Woorayl Air Services
- Bulgaria
- Fortuna Air
- Canada
- Epandair Inc.
- Supermarine Aircraft Inc.
- Chile
- Alas Agricolas
- Corporación Nacional Forestal operates at least two aircraft.
- China
- Czech Republic
- Agroair
- Air Special
- Beta Air
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Italy
- Morocco
- Montenegro
- Nicaragua
- Poland
- Aeroklub Polski
- Lasy Państwowe
- Zakład Usług Agrolotniczych
- Serbia
- JAT Privredna Avijacija
- South Africa
- Birdog Aviation
- Spain
- Avialsa
- Tratamientos Aereos Martinez Ridao
- Turkey
- United States
- Downstown Aero Group Service
- South Dakota operates aircraft for wildland fire suppression.
- Valley Air Service
- Western Pilot Service
- Venezuela
Specifications (M-18B Dromader)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: one, pilot
- Capacity: one passenger, and up to 2,500 L (660 US gallons) or 2,200 kg (4,850 lb) of chemicals
- Length: 9.47 m (31 ft 1 in)
- Wingspan: 17.70 m (58 ft 0¾ in)
- Height: 3.70 m (12 ft 1¾ in)
- Wing area: 40.00 m² (430.5 ft²)
- Airfoil: NACA 4416 at root, 4412 on outer wings
- Empty weight: 2,710 kg[2] (5,975 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 5,300 kg (11,700 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × WSK 'PZL-Kalisz' ASz-62IR piston radial, 731 kW (980 hp)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 280 km/h (151 knots, 174 mph)
- Maximum speed: 230 km/h (124 knots, 143 mph)
- Stall speed: 108 km/h (59 knots, 68mph) (flaps down)
- Range: 970 km (523 nmi, 602 miles)
- Service ceiling: 6,500 m (21,320 ft)
- Rate of climb: 6.5 m/s (1,280 ft/min)
See also
- Related development
- Rockwell Thrush Commander
- PZL M-24 Dromader Super
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Zlin Z-37 Cmelak
References
- ^ Jackson 2003, pp. 338–339.
- ^ Taylor 1999, p.450. (M-18A)
- 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.
External links
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Pzl M18 Dromader
The Dromader is a popular AG plane, developed in middle 70's in Polland, wich are capable to make crop dusting and firefighting, carrying chemicals or water in a big frontal hopper.
Aircraft current features:
- - Detailed 3D model & textures
- Near-complete cockpit (Instruments operational at 90%; switches, valves & handles, operational almost 50%)new!
- Custom instruments (with some little exceptions, just temporal), based on real ones new!
- Exterior and interior animations
- Custom sounds, most taken from real Dromaders new!
- More realistic FDM
- Basic weight & load control new!
- 3 HQ liveries
- Totally new bottom door, more realistic
- Cockpit & instrument lights new!
- Immatriculation
- Help menu
- Advisor of VNE and G limits exceed
- Shaders for GIT: NormalMap & Reflect (*)
- 'Starter' particle systems: water drop, pesticide & motor smoke
- In-built cropdusting pipes (basic model, hidden for now, but editable in xml)
(*) Shaders are disabled for FlightGear 1.9 and 2.0. On ViveFg! are two separeted links, for each version.
All people are invited to download and test the aircraft, and write their opinion. We are avid for some feedback and suggestions.
The current version is oriented to test aircraft behavior carrying hard water loads, and it's have a basic water-oriented particle system for now. However, users who wants to try their cropdusting may edit the M18B_Dromader.xml file to get it. All instruments, sounds, fuselage texts and more details have been taken from a CONAF (National Forest Corporation, Chile) firefigther Dromader (CC-PZJ).
You can find the model at 'Vive FlightGear', the Spain-Latinamerica FlightGear community site. The site is in spanish, but the download button is easy to recognize.
Download Link(January 31, 2011)
FlightGear's Wiki Dromader page.
Here are somescreenshots of the current plane. Click on each one to enlarge them.
Older pics:
See All Results For This Question
To do:- - Fix some engine Tº issues
- Nasal-based fuel, hydraulic and electrical systems
- Nasal-based instrumentation, where default property-tree has no items
- More realistic startup
- Realistic cropdusting and firefighting systems, nasal-based
Collision With Terrain, VH-IGT, PZL-M18A (Dromader), 58 Km SW ...
M18 Dromader Flight Manual - Canton-homesforsale.com
Credits:Pavel 'El Flauta' Cueto: 3D model, instruments, textures, sounds, particles and systems.
Fernando Espinosa: FDM, animations and systems
Note: In our documentation, we have official certification sheets, dossiers and brochures, but we don't have the pilot's flight manual of the aircraft. If someone have some info (better if someone have the manual in pdf) please, tell to us. Thanks.