CallAir A-9


 * For the USAF unmanned Quail drone aircraft, see ADM-20 Quail.

The IMCO CallAir A-9 is a small agricultural aircraft that first flew in 1962, a development of the company's previous successful crop-dusters. It is typical of aircraft of its type - a single-seat aircraft with a low wing incorporating spraying gear.

Design and development
The Call Aircraft Company (CAC) had built the CallAir Model A series of light utility and agricultural aircraft. Following the purchase of CAC in 1962 by Intermountain Manufacturing Company (IMCO) the latter produced a new agricultural derivative of the Callair, the CallAir A-9. Production of the new aircraft started in 1963.

Like the earlier CallAir aircraft, the A-9 is a single-engined monoplane with a braced low wing. It is of mixed construction, with a fabric-covered steel-tube fuselage structure and a wood-and-fabric wing. The pilot sits behind the chemical hopper, and the cockpit is enclosed by two removable, bottom-hinged doors that form the left and right side windows. The aircraft is powered by a single Lycoming O-540 flat-six piston engine. Later, some A-9s have been adapted for glider towing operations.

IMCO was in turn purchased by Rockwell International in 1966, which built the plane under its Aero Commander division before shifting production to Mexico in 1971, under a joint venture there called AAMSA. Production ceased in 1984.

Variants

 * A-9
 * Original variant, powered by a 235 hp (175 kW) Lycoming O-540-B2B5. Built by IMCO and Aero Commander (as the Sparrow Commander)


 * B-1
 * Enlarged A-9 with a 400 hp (298 kW) Lycoming IO-720-A1A engine and 42 ft 8 in (13.00 m) wingspan. First flight January 15, 1966. Built by IMCO and Aero Commander (as the Snipe Commander).


 * A-9 Super
 * Version with 290 hp (216 kW) Lycoming IO-540. Built by Aero Commander (as the Quail Commander) and by AAMSA (as the A9B-M Quail)