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PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader: Difference between revisions
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The | The '''PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader''' is a popular agricultural aircraft, developed in middle 1970's in Poland by PZL. Dromaders are capable to make crop dusting and firefighting operations, carrying chemicals or water in a big frontal hopper. | ||
The current version is oriented to test aircraft behavior carrying hard water loads, and it's has a basic water-oriented particle system for now. However, users who wants to try their cropdusting may edit the M18B_Dromader.xml file to get it. All instruments, sounds, fuselage texts and more details have been taken from a real CONAF's (National Forest Corporation, Chile) firefigther Dromader (CC-PZJ). | The current version is oriented to test aircraft behavior carrying hard water loads, and it's has a basic water-oriented particle system for now. However, users who wants to try their cropdusting may edit the M18B_Dromader.xml file to get it. All instruments, sounds, fuselage texts and more details have been taken from a real CONAF's (National Forest Corporation, Chile) firefigther Dromader (CC-PZJ). | ||
== Aircraft help == | == Aircraft help == | ||
=== Engine start (temporary) === | |||
=== Engine start ( | * Press {{key press|<nowiki>{</nowiki>}} three times for turn on magnetos | ||
* Press | * Press {{key press|S}} for starter | ||
* Press | |||
=== Takeoff === | === Takeoff === | ||
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=== Special keys === | === Special keys === | ||
{| class="keytable" | |||
! Key | |||
! Function | |||
|- | |||
| {{key press|E}} | |||
| Water drop/Pesticide dust | |||
|- | |||
| {{key press|D}} | |||
| Open/Close Left-front door | |||
|- | |||
| {{key press|Shift|D}} | |||
| Open/Close right-front door | |||
|- | |||
| {{key press|Ctrl|D}} | |||
| Open/Close rear door | |||
|} | |||
=== In-flight considerations === | === In-flight considerations === | ||
With full payload, a Dromader | With full payload, a Dromader is 50% heavier, so it is neccessary to adjust the aileron trim carefully to fly properly. Pilots may consider to make firefighter water drops with flaps 15º down when plane flies with full water cargo at front. In the same way a loaded Dromader is less maneuverable than empty one, having a higher risk to stall. | ||
Take attention to the lift while you do firefighter water dropping, due to the aircraft getting lighter very fast. | |||
== Development status == | == Development status == | ||
[[File:M18B_Dromader_03.png|thumb|250px|Red firefighter livery]] | [[File:M18B_Dromader_03.png|thumb|250px|Red firefighter livery]] | ||
[[File:M18B_Dromader_02.png|thumb|250px|CONAF livery]] | [[File:M18B_Dromader_02.png|thumb|250px|CONAF livery]] | ||
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* Detailed 3D model & textures | * Detailed 3D model & textures | ||
* Detailed, semi-realistic cockpit | * Detailed, semi-realistic cockpit | ||
* Custom instruments (with some little exceptions, just | * Custom instruments (with some little exceptions, just temporary) based on real ones | ||
* Exterior and interior animations | * Exterior and interior animations | ||
* Custom sounds, most taken from real Dromaders | * Custom sounds, most taken from real Dromaders | ||
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* In-built cropdusting pipes (basic model, hidden for now, but editable on xml files) | * In-built cropdusting pipes (basic model, hidden for now, but editable on xml files) | ||
== To do == | |||
== | |||
* Fix some engine Tº issues | * Fix some engine Tº issues | ||
* Improved fuel, hydraulic and electrical systems | * Improved fuel, hydraulic and electrical systems | ||
* Nasal-based instrumentation, where default property-tree has no items | * Nasal-based instrumentation, where default property-tree has no items | ||
* More realistic startup procedure | * More realistic startup procedure | ||
* Realistic | * Realistic crop dusting and [[Wildfire simulation|firefighting]] systems, nasal-based | ||
== Airplane of the Week/Month == | == Airplane of the Week/Month == | ||
The Dromader was reviewed as 'Airplane of the Week/Month' on August 15, 2011 as follows: | The Dromader was reviewed as 'Airplane of the Week/Month' on August 15, 2011 as follows: | ||
=== Model === | |||
The Dromader is one of the models whose visuals simply look stunning. It seems incredible to see a plane rendered in detail down to single screws in real time - and yet there it is (although one needs a fairly powerful system). | The Dromader is one of the models whose visuals simply look stunning. It seems incredible to see a plane rendered in detail down to single screws in real time - and yet there it is (although one needs a fairly powerful system). | ||
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The plane also comes with a nice animation for the release of pesticide, as well as opening of various doors. | The plane also comes with a nice animation for the release of pesticide, as well as opening of various doors. | ||
=== Flight characteristics === | |||
The Dromader is a crop-duster, and the JSBSim FDM reflects that quite well. When empty, the engine is fairly powerful, so the plane can operate from a very short field and climb quite rapidly, making it ideal for outback flying. With full payload, the flight characteristics is significantly changed, the plane accelerates and climbs noticeably slower. Neither configuration is suitable for aerobatics or rapid turns, the structural limits of the airframe are reached quite soon (they are implemented as on-screen printed warnings rather than as actual failures of the plane). | The Dromader is a crop-duster, and the JSBSim FDM reflects that quite well. When empty, the engine is fairly powerful, so the plane can operate from a very short field and climb quite rapidly, making it ideal for outback flying. With full payload, the flight characteristics is significantly changed, the plane accelerates and climbs noticeably slower. Neither configuration is suitable for aerobatics or rapid turns, the structural limits of the airframe are reached quite soon (they are implemented as on-screen printed warnings rather than as actual failures of the plane). | ||
The plane is not difficult to fly - it has fairly mild stall characteristics and handles well. It is a | The plane is not difficult to fly - it has fairly mild stall characteristics and handles well. It is a tail dragger, but compared with WW II warbirds the problems associated with the sudden lift of the tail during takeoff are mild, so it is a good plane to get familiar with the concept. | ||
=== My personal wishlist === | |||
Procedures are currently very simple - a more realistic startup for instance would be nice. I also found that the animation of pesticide release even works if the tank is empty - a couple of small things like this would improve the plane a bit. | Procedures are currently very simple - a more realistic startup for instance would be nice. I also found that the animation of pesticide release even works if the tank is empty - a couple of small things like this would improve the plane a bit. | ||
=== Things to experience === | |||
Do the obvious - take a full tank of pesticide, find a nice field somewhere close and drop it - watch the plane suddenly shoot up into the air as the load is released. It's fun. | Do the obvious - take a full tank of pesticide, find a nice field somewhere close and drop it - watch the plane suddenly shoot up into the air as the load is released. It's fun. | ||
== Related content == | |||
=== Forum topics === | |||
* {{forum link|title=<nowiki>[</nowiki>Update<nowiki>]</nowiki> PZL M18B Dromader|t=9929}} - Official development topic | |||
[[Category:PZL]] | |||