Photograph:
PZL M-18A Dromader VH-SAP (c/n 1Z019-24) at Deniliquin, NSW in April 1998 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Poland
Description:
Single seat (M-18) or two-seat (M-18A) agricultural monoplane
Power Plant:
One 746 kw (1,000 hp) PZL Kalisz ASz-621R nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 17.7 m (58 ft 0¼ in)
- Length: 9.47 m (31 ft 1 in)
- Height: 4.6 m (15 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 40 sq m² (430.5 sq ft)
- Max speed: 256 km/h (159 mph)
- Cruising speed at sea level: 205 km/ h (127 mph)
- Normal operating speed: 230 km/h (143 mph)
- Stalling speed flaps down: 109 km/h (68 mph)
- Max rate of climb at sea level: 414 m/min (1,360 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 6,500 m (21,325 ft)
- Max range no reserves: 540 km (335 miles)
- Empty weight: 2,610 kg (5,754 lb)
- Loaded weight: 4,200 kg (9,259 lb)
- Payload: 1,350 kg (2,976 lb)
History:
Designed solely as an agricultural aircraft with particular attention paid to pilot safety, and with all parts of the structure exposed to chemicals treated with polyurethane, epoxy enamels, or built with stainless steel, the prototype Dromader was first flown on 27 August 1976, the second following on 2 October 1976, and the third completed for static tests. Subsequently ten pre-production aircraft were built, two of these being used for static and fatigue testing, the remainder as trials aircraft, two operating in the agricultural role in Egypt.
The Dromader has since become quite popular, with more than 790 delivered, and examples have been registered in Canada, France, Germany, USA, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Cuba, Greece, USSR etc. Examples have also been used extensively for fire-fighting, 30 being supplied to Greece for this purpose. In the United States, Melex USA developed a turboprop variant fitted with an 895 kw (1,200 shp) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-45AG or –65 engine, and this became known as the T-45 or T-65 Turbine Dromader. A two-seat variant known as the M-18A was also available.
Other variants also became available and these included the M-24 Dromader Super with the ASz-621R engine, hopper capacity increased to 2,700 litres (594 Imp gals), increased wingspan, and a new aerofoil section; and the M-21 Dromader Mini, a reduced capacity variant with a 448 kw (600 shp) PZL-3SR seven-cylinder radial engine. Another variant was fitted with the TPE-331-OUA engine; and one was fitted with a 746 kw (1,000 shp) Lycoming T53-L3 from a Grumman OV-1 Mohawk.
In the United States after-market conversions have seen Dromaders fitted with PT6A-45 or –65 engines; and others with AlliedSignal TPE-331 units. Variants included the M-18B standard version; M-18BS two-seat dual control trainer, the prototype of which (SP-ZUW) flew in November 1997; and the Turbine Dromader with an 875 kw (1,173 shp) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-45A engine.
Early in 1989 an M-18A Dromader arrived in Melbourne, VIC, and, after assembly and demonstration, became VH-DRO (c/n IZO-19-09). Shortly thereafter a further example arrived, becoming VH-LJF (c/n IZO-20-03) but this was lost in an accident near Deniliquin, NSW on 23 October 1992. More than 25 examples have appeared on the Australian register. First of type registered in New Zealand was ZK-RMC with Patchett Ag-Air. A number of Australian examples have been converted to turbine power, the first being VH-XKK (ex N168RA), followed by VH-TGY and VH-TGZ.