PZL M-26 Iskierka

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M-26 Iskierka

Type	Trainer aircraft
Manufacturer	PZL-Mielec
Maiden flight	July 15, 1986
Status	in production
Primary users	Polish aviation USA

PZL M-26 Iskierka (sparklet) is a Polish trainer aircraft, designed in WSK-Mielec (later PZL-Mielec).

1 Development
2 Description
3 Specifications (M-26)
4 External links
5 Related content

[edit] Development

M-26 Iskierka was conceived as an economical plane for civilian pilots' training and primary selection of military pilots. It offers training in both VFR and IFR flying and aerobatics. Its construction is partly based upon twin-engine PZL M-20 Mewa utility plane (Piper Seneca II, built under licence in WSK-Mielec). It shares vertical stabilizer with rudder and a landing gear with Mewa, while wings and tail part of fuselage are unified to some degree. The plane is constructed according to FAR-23 rules.

The first prototype, powered with PZL-Frankin 6A-350C1 (150 kW) engine flew first on July 15, 1986. The second prototype with ultimate Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5D (220 kW) engine flew on June 24, 1987.

Only a short series has been made by now (there are four M-26s in the Polish registry). The plane is also certified in the USA, Australia and Europe (EASA). In the USA it is offered under a name Airwolf. In 1998 two were delivered to Venezuelan National Guard.

[edit] Description

Metal construction low-wing monoplane, conventional in layout, metal covered. Semi-monocoque fuselage. Rectangular single-spar wings. Crew of two, sitting in tandem, under a common canopy, with double controls (student in front, instructor in rear). The rear seat is raised. The canopy is dropped in emergency. Retractable tricycle landing gear. Three-blade propeller (1.9 m diameter). Fuel tanks in wings (377 l). The plane may be fitted with a camera gun and racks for two small bombs.

[edit] Specifications (M-26)

General characteristics

Crew: two pilots (instructor, student)
Length: 8.3 m (27 ft 2¾ in)
Wingspan: 8.6 m (28 ft 2⅔ in)
Height: 2.96 m (9 ft ¾ in)
Wing area: 14 m² (151 ft²)
Empty weight: 1,040 kg (2,290 lb)
Useful load: 360 kg (794 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 1,400 kg (3,090 lb)
Powerplant: 1× Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5D air-cooled 6-cylinder boxer engine, 300 hp (220 kW)