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09-May-2018 Mike Stobbs

C-FYLN

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.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, over 200 are used in the USA. In 2008, fifteen were sold to China. The Dromader is still in PZL-Mielec offer the (as of 2017), but the production has been halted. The produced aircraft are still refurbished instead, with new engines (produced by WSK "PZL-Kalisz"). There are plans to acquire rights and renew the production in WZL-2 in Bydgoszcz.

Some 759 had been built. Currently (2012) models M-18B and M-18BS are offered by PZL-Mielec

Nikon D800 ,AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
1/1250s f/8.0 at 400.0mm iso400 full exif

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Bob B.21-May-2018 21:42
Have seen these in action as aerial sprayers. I have pictures of some on slide film from the very early 90's (somewhere!) They were held in high regard at the time. BB
pkocinski13-May-2018 23:58
Very cool find complete with some history!
fotabug11-May-2018 01:00
Quite an airplane, reminiscent of some older German designs.
Wintermeer11-May-2018 00:34
Great capture- and most interesting background info! ~V~
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