Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Single-seat agricultural biplane

Power Plant:

One 225 kw (300 hp) Lycoming IO-540-M1B5D six-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

Built by Eagle Aircraft in the United States, and designed by Dean Wilson in the 1970s, the prototype of the DW-1 agricultural biplane was flown for the first time at Boise in Idaho in 1977. It was known initially as the Eagle 220 and Eagle 300 in the two variants available, the designation of the model relating to the engine installed, the Continental radial or the Lycoming horizontally-opposed unit.

Powered by a Jacobs R-755-B2 radial engilne, the prototype N77001 (c/n DW-1-0001) flew in 1977 but early production aircraft had the Continental W670-6N air-cooled radial and soon the 225 kw (300 hp) Lycoming IO-540M1B5D unit was installed, this offering better performance.

The wings were based on the development of wings for high performance sailplanes, being of high aspect ratio and of wooden construction with fabric covering. Spray booms for liquid chemicals formed the trailing-edge of the lower wing, and control in roll was shared by the ailerons on the upper wing and spoilers on the upper surface of the lower wing. A 946 litre (208 Imp gal) chemical hopper was installed between the engine bay and the cockpit.

The type was built for Eagle Aircraft by Bellanca Aircraft at Alexandria in Minnesota under licence between 1980 and 1983, some 136 being completed. Initially powered by a 165 kw (220 hp) Continental W670 radial engine, nearly all production aircraft had the 225 kw (300 hp) Lycoming IO-540 installed. The type was said to be efficient and economical to operate. Rights to the aircraft were obtained by Alexandria Aircraft LLC in 1983 but no further aircraft were built.

First of the type in Australia became VH-FTB (c/n DW-1-003181 – ex N8804T) to Blanchard Aviation of Ingham and Ayr, Queensland, on 17 February 2009, this being one of an initial four examples of the type imported for agricultural work. It had previously operated with Flyway Aviation of Cando in California before being cancelled on 1 February 2008. Blanchard used the type for aerial spraying, seeding and fertilising alongside its fleet of rotary wing aircraft, and has also been involved in survey and fire-fighting duties.

On 18 April 2011 VH-FTB crashed at Bambaroo 28 km south of Ingham, QLD, whilst on aerial work, and was destroyed. The aircraft hit a tree just off the Bruce Highway and was flown to an adjacent field but cartwheeled on landing. It is known the company has imported a total of eight second-hand examples of the type, assembling and registering them as required.

A further example was registered on 26 July 2011 to Blanchard Aviation, this machine becoming VH-FXB (c/n DW-1-0075-83 – ex N8812L). This aircraft had operated in the United States with Roys Aerial Spraying of Superior, Nebraska before its registration was cancelled on 1 July 2011.

A further example became VH-FHP (c/n DW-1-0027-8 – ex N88034) on 27 November 2012 with Blanchard Aviation. It was previously operated in the United States by PL Laymance and Johnson Air Service Inc, both of Waterville, Washington. Whilst conducting aerial spraying on a property 77 km south-east of Townsville it struck power lines and crashed on 27 July 2015.

Other aircraft imported included: c/n DW-1-0013-80 (ex N88012) which had an accident on 1 June 1982 at Spraygue, Washington was put into storage before importation; c/n DW-1-0014-80 (ex N8802B) which was operated by Crop Air Inc of Eaton Illinois was cancelled from the register on 29 August 2008.

C/n DW-1-0037-81 operated in the United States as N8805Y by O O Cogburn and later J H Fenger of Chester, Illinois. Its registration was cancelled on 22 September 2008 before later being imported to Australia. C/n DW-1-0065-82 operated in the United States as N8810Y with Griffin & Brand McAllen Inc of Tennessee, and later by J H Fenger of Chester, Illinois. C/n DW-1-0067-82 operated as N88103 also with Griffin & Brand McAllen Inc of Tennessee and later with J H Fenger of Chester, Illinois, the registration being cancelled on 29 August 2008.