PZL M-21 Dromader Mini

The PZL M-24 Dromader Mini (Dromader is Polish for "Dromedary"), originally named the Lama (Polish for "Llama"), is a single engine agricultural aircraft, developed in the 1980s by WSK-Mielec (later PZL-Mielec) from the PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader. The prototype, registration SP-PDM, first flew on 18 June 1982. It did not progress beyond the prototyping stage.

Development
By the early 1980s, WSK-Mielec was aware that the economics of aerial application in agriculture varied according to the characteristics of the land being treated. One relevant factor was the size of the plot, where a larger aircraft is more cost-effective for treating a larger area of land, and a smaller aircraft more cost-effective for a smaller area. The company therefore decided to manufacture a range of agricultural aircraft of different sizes, based on the already-proven M-18 design. This member of the family was intended for smaller areas of land, up to about 50 ha.

The M-21 was designed to retain as much commonality with the M-18 as possible; ultimately around 70% was achieved. Common areas included the cabin, rear fuselage, empennage, outer wing panels, and mainwheels. The desire to maximise this commonality resulted in an overall weight greater than what would otherwise have been necessary.

Design work commenced in January 1980 and was concluded by June that year. Construction of the first prototype began in August 1981, and it first flew on 18 June 1982. Three prototypes were built: two for flight testing and one for static tests.

The prototypes were tested from 1982 to 1986, when the design was certified. However, PZL did not have capacity to manufacture the design alongside the company's existing programs and no further examples were built.

A turboprop version, the M-21T, powered by a Walter M601A, was designed but never constructed.

Design
The M-21 is a conventional, low-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed, tailwheel undercarriage. Construction is of metal throughout. It is equipped with a single seat in an enclosed cabin. Power is supplied by a single PZL-3SR radial engine mounted tractor-fashion in the nose.