PZL M-26 Iskierka

infobox Aircraft
name =M26 Iskierka
type =Trainer aircraft
manufacturer =PZL Mielec



caption =
designer =
first flight =July 15, 1986
introduced =
retired =
status = in production
primary user =US civilian aviation
more users = Poland
Venezuela
produced =
number built = 14
unit cost =
variants with their own articles = PZL M26 Iskierka ("sparklet") or M26 Airwolf is a Polish trainer and aerobatics aircraft, designed in WSK "PZL-Mielec" (later PZL Mielec).

Design and development

M26 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 M26-00, powered with PZL-Franklin 6A-350C1 (150 kW) engine flew first on July 15, 1986 (registraion SP-PIA). The second prototype, of ultimate M26-01 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.

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.

Operators

*POL
*USA
*VEN

pecifications (M26)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref= [http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:YJc49QpYIgUJ:www.pzlmielec.pl/fly04_2.html+site:www.pzlmielec.pl+M-26+iskierka+pr%C4%99dko%C5%9B%C4%87&hl=pl&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=pl old PZl-Mielec page]
crew=two pilots (instructor, student)
capacity=
length main=8.3 m
length alt=27 ft 2¾ in
span main=8.6 m
span alt=28 ft 2⅔ in
height main=2.96 m
height alt=9 ft ¾ in
area main=14 m²
area alt=151 ft²
empty weight main=1,040 kg
empty weight alt=2,290 lb
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=360 kg
useful load alt=794 lb
max takeoff weight main=1,400 kg
max takeoff weight alt=3,090 lb

engine (prop)=Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5D
type of prop= air-cooled 6-cylinder boxer engine
number of props=1
power main=300 hp
power alt=220 kW

max speed main=371 km/h, in aerobatics variant 394 km/h
max speed alt=210 knots
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main=1,410 km
range alt=760 nm
ceiling main=
ceiling alt=
climb rate main=6 m/s
climb rate alt=1,168 ft/s
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=

armament=

Note: in aerobatics variant maximum take-off weight is 1,315 kg, maximum speed 394 km/h and climb rate 9 m/s.

ee also

aircontent
related=
*PZL M-20 Mewa
*Piper PA-34 Seneca

similar aircraft=
*Aermacchi SF.260
*Aérospatiale Epsilon
*Utva Lasta
*T-35 Pillán

lists=

see also=

References

*Krzysztof Piwek, Wiesław Tomecki: "Samolot M26 Iskierka" in: [http://www.smil.org.pl/ptl/wyklady/iskierka.pdf Polska Technika Lotnicza - Materiały Historyczne 10(3/2005) - a lecture given on 19-2-2005 in Muzeum Techniki, Warsaw] pl icon

External links

* [http://www.pzlmielec.pl/fly04_2.html PZL Mielec page]