PZL M-21 Dromader Mini

M-21 Dromader Mini
Role	Agricultural aircraft
National origin	Poland
Manufacturer	WSK-Mielec
Designer	Jarosław Rumszewicz
First flight	June 18, 1982
Number built	2
Developed from	PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader

Last updated November 29, 2024

The PZL M-24 Dromader Mini (Dromader is Polish for "Dromedary"), originally named the Lama^[4] (Polish for "Llama"), is a single engine agricultural aircraft, developed in the 1980s by WSK-Mielec (later PZL-Mielec) from the PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader.^[2] The prototype, registration SP-PDM, first flew on 18 June 1982.^[3] It did not progress beyond the prototyping stage.^[5]

Development

By the early 1980s, WSK-Mielec was aware that the economics of aerial application in agriculture varied according to the characteristics of the land being treated.^[6] One relevant factor was the size of the plot, where a larger aircraft is more cost-effective for treating a larger area of land, and a smaller aircraft more cost-effective for a smaller area.^[6] The company therefore decided to manufacture a range of agricultural aircraft of different sizes, based on the already-proven M-18 design.^[6]^[7] This member of the family was intended for smaller areas of land, up to about 50 hectares (120 acres).^[8]

The M-21 was designed to retain as much commonality with the M-18 as possible; ultimately around 70% was achieved.^[1]^[9] Common areas included the cabin, rear fuselage, empennage, outer wing panels, and mainwheels.^[1]^[9] The desire to maximise this commonality resulted in an overall weight greater than what would otherwise have been necessary.^[10]

Design work commenced in January 1980 and was concluded by June that year.^[1] Construction of the first prototype began in August 1981, and it first flew on 18 June 1982.^[1] Three prototypes were built: two for flight testing and one for static tests.^[1]^[9]

The prototypes were tested from 1982 to 1986, when the design was certified.^[8] However, PZL did not have capacity to manufacture the design alongside the company's existing programs and no further examples were built.^[8]

A turboprop version, the M-21T, powered by a Walter M601A, was designed but never constructed.^[11]

Design

The M-21 is a conventional, low-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed, tailwheel undercarriage.^[12] Construction is of metal throughout.^[9] It is equipped with a single seat in an enclosed cabin.^[9] Power is supplied by a single PZL-3SR radial engine mounted tractor-fashion in the nose.^[12]

Specifications

Data from PZL M-21 Dromader Mini, p. 17

General characteristics

Crew: 1 pilot
Capacity: 1,700 L (450 US gal; 370 imp gal) / 965 kg (2,127 lb) of chemicals
Length: 9.48 m (31 ft 1 in)
Wingspan: 14.51 m (47 ft 7 in)
Height: 3.11 m (10 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 32.6 m² (351 sq ft)
Empty weight: 2,060 kg (4,542 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 3,300 kg (7,275 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × PZL-3SR 7-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 442 kW (593 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 187 km/h (116 mph, 101 kn)
Cruise speed: 180 km/h (110 mph, 97 kn)
Service ceiling: 2,900 m (9,500 ft)
Rate of climb: 3.8 m/s (750 ft/min)

Notes

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References

1 2 3 4 5 6 PZL M-21 Dromader Mini, p. 17
1 2 3 Taylor 1993, p.963
1 2 Simpson 1995, p.316
↑ PZL M21 Lama, p.1
↑ Lambert, Munson & Taylor 1991, p. 193
1 2 3 Witkowski 1983, p.5
↑ Glass 1983, p.6–7
1 2 3 Luto
1 2 3 4 5 Taylor 1984, p.178
↑ PZL M21 Lama, p.16
↑ Glass 2009, p.8
1 2 PZL M-21 Dromader Mini, p. 18

Bibliography

Glass, Andrzej (May 1983). "Airplanes manufactured at PZL-Mielec". Technika lotnicze i astronautyczna. Vol. 38, no. 5. Warsaw: Stowarzyszenie Inżynierów i Techników Mechaników Polskich. pp. 6–7.
Glass, Andrzej (2009). "Samoloty rolnicze" [Agricultural aircraft]. Polska Technika Lotnicza: Materiały historyczne. No. 1. Warsaw: Klub Miłośników Historii Polskiej Techniki Lotniczej.
Lambert, Mark; Munson, Kenneth; Taylor, Michael J.H., eds. (1991). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1991-92 (82nd ed.). Coulson, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group.
Luto, Krzysztof. "PZL M21 "Dromader Mini", 1982 ("Lama")". Samoloty w Lotnictwie Polskim.
"PZL-M21 Dromader Mini". Technika lotnicze i astronautyczna. Vol. 38, no. 5. Warsaw: Stowarzyszenie Inżynierów i Techników Mechaników Polskich. May 1983. pp. 17–18.
PZL M21 Lama (Report). PZL Mielec. 1980.
Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing.
Taylor, John W.R., ed. (1984). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1984-85 (75th ed.). London: Jane's Publishing Co.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1993). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
Witkowski, Bogusław (16 January 1983). "Rodzina Dromaderow" ["Dromader family"]. Skrzydlata Polska. No. 3 (1625). Warsaw: Wydawnictwa Komunikacji i Łączności. pp. 4–5.

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[tlia17-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 PZL M-21 Dromader Mini, p. 17

[jea-2] 1 2 3 Taylor 1993, p.963

[simpson316-3] 1 2 Simpson 1995, p.316

[projekt1-4] PZL M21 Lama, p.1

[jawa193-5] Lambert, Munson & Taylor 1991, p. 193

[Witkowski5-6] 1 2 3 Witkowski 1983, p.5

[glass6-7-7] Glass 1983, p.6–7

[luto-8] 1 2 3 Luto

[jawa178-9] 1 2 3 4 5 Taylor 1984, p.178

[projekt16-10] PZL M21 Lama, p.16

[glass8-11] Glass 2009, p.8

[tlia18-12] 1 2 PZL M-21 Dromader Mini, p. 18

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