PZL M-26 Iskierka
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| M-26 Iskierka | |
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| Type | Trainer aircraft |
| Manufacturer | PZL-Mielec |
| Maiden flight | July 15, 1986 |
| Status | in production |
| Primary users | US civilian aviation Poland Venezuela |
| Number built | 14 |
PZL M-26 Iskierka (sparklet) or M-26 Airwolf is a Polish trainer and aerobatics aircraft, designed in WSK PZL-Mielec (later PZL-Mielec).
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[edit] Design and 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 main 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. Main designer was Krzysztof Piwek.
The first prototype M-26-00, powered with PZL-Franklin 6A-350C1 (150 kW) engine flew first on July 15, 1986 (registraion SP-PIA). The second prototype, of ultimate M-26-01 variant, with Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5D (220 kW) engine flew on June 24, 1987 (registration SP-DIB, earlier SP-PIB). The plane was tested in a military aviation school in Dęblin in 1992.
Only a short series of 14 aircraft has been made by now, from which four remainin in Poland. The plane is still offered by the PZL-Mielec and is certified in the USA, Australia and Europe (EASA). In the USA it is offered under a name Airwolf or Air Wolf, and 8 were exported there, starting from 1996. In 1998 two were delivered to Venezuelan National Guard. There are works to fit Walter M601 turboprop engine, for eventual customers' demand.
[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] Operators
[edit] Specifications (M-26)
Data from old PZl-Mielec page
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)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 371 km/h, in aerobatics variant 394 km/h (210 knots)
- Range: 1,410 km (760 nm)
- Rate of climb: 6 m/s (1,168 ft/s)
Note: in aerobatics variant maximum take-off weight is 1,315 kg, maximum speed 394 km/h and climb rate 9 m/s.
[edit] References
- Krzysztof Piwek, Wiesław Tomecki: Samolot M26 Iskierka in: Polska Technika Lotnicza - Materiały Historyczne 10(3/2005) - a lecture given on 19-2-2005 in Muzeum Techniki, Warsaw (Polish)
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
- Aermacchi SF.260 - Aérospatiale Epsilon - Utva Lasta - T-35 Pillán
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