Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia

The PZL M-15 was a jet-powered sesquiplane designed and manufactured by the Polish aircraft company WSK PZL-Mielec for agricultural aviation. In reference to both its strange looks and relatively loud jet engine, the aircraft was nicknamed Belphegor, after the noisy demon.

Development of the M-15 can be traced back to a Soviet requirement for a modern agricultural aircraft to succeed the Antonov An-2; it was at the insistence of Soviet officials that jet propulsion would power the type. WSK Mielec's design team recognised the value of the An-2's biplane configuration to the role and set about developing an initial experimental aircraft, the Lala-1, for Latające Laboratorium 1 ("Flying Laboratory 1") to explore the use of a jet engine with such a configuration. On 20 May 1973, the first M-15 prototype performed its maiden flight; even during the test flight phase, it was apparent that there were several drawbacks to the aircraft, including its poor handling, limited range, and high operating costs.

Design

The PZL M-15 Belphegor was a metal twin-boom sesquiplane. It was intended to be routinely operated by a single pilot, but also had provisions for two additional crew to serve as technicians when deemed necessary. Portions of the lower wings and the chemicals tanks were composed of a laminate to avoid corrosion. The upper and lower wings were connected with two thick columns which housed the chemical tanks. It was outfitted with a fixed tricycle landing gear arrangement. The M-15 was a relatively heavy aircraft, and has been described as being the heaviest biplane to ever be produced..

Polskie Zakłady Lotnicze - Polish Aviation Works)

WSK "PZL-Mielec
PZL M-15 Belphegor

General Info

Crew: 1
Capacity:

Seats for two groundcrew for ferry flights
2,900 L (770 US gal; 640 imp gal) liquid chemicals or
2,200 kg (4,850 lb) dry chemicals

Length: 12.72 m (41 ft 9 in)
Wingspan: 22.33 m (73 ft 3 in)

Powerplant

Wing area: 67.5 m² (727 sq ft) Empty weight: 3,090 kg (6,812 lb) Max takeoff weight: 5,650 kg (12,456 lb) Powerplant: 1 × Ivchenko-Progress AI-25 turbofan, 14.7 kN (3,300 lbf) thrust

Performance

Maximum speed: 200 km/h (120 mph, 110 kn)
Cruise speed: 140–165 km/h (87–103 mph, 76–89 kn) (normal operating speed)
Stall speed: 108 km/h (67 mph, 58 kn)
Range: 400 km (250 mi, 220 nmi)
Rate of climb: 4.8 m/s (940 ft/min)

Armament

List of slowest fixed-wing aircraft

Special Links WSK "PZL-Mielec

Links to Youtube & Others

During 1976, serial production of the M-15 commenced. At one stage, Soviet agriculture planners had intended to order as many as 3,000 aircraft to meet its needs; however, operations of the M-15 under real world circumstances proved to be a largely disappointing experience. As an inherent consequence of adopting a jet engine, it was not an economical aircraft to operate, being inferior in this aspect to the An-2 that the M-15 had been envisioned to succeed

PZL TS-11 Iskra
(English: Spark)

The PZL TS-11 Iskra (English: Spark) is a Polish jet trainer, developed and manufactured by aircraft company PZL-Mielec.

Youtube Link

Recorded Nov. 14th 2009, I had the opportunity to fly with Dr. Wayne Clark in his PZL-WSK-Mielec TS-11 ISKRA JET

PZL Mielec
PZL M-15 Belphegor

PZL M-15 Belphegor

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History WSK "PZL-Mielec
PZL M-15 Belphegor