Piper PA-36 Pawnee Brave
The Piper PA -36 Brave is an agricultural aircraft of the U.S. aircraft manufacturer Piper Aircraft Corporation.
History and construction
The aircraft is a single-seat single-engine low-wing to with rigid rear wheel chassis. It is based on the interpretation of the Piper PA -25, however, is improved in many ways and more powerful. The body of the PA -36 is composed of a chromium-molybdenum tube frame, to which the panels are attached. A roll-over bar is also a part of the construction. The wings have two bars and are made up on the made of glass fiber leading edge and wing tips of aluminum. The spray tank, located in front of the cockpit, holds either 850 l or 1075 l The spray can deploy 863 liters per minute. The cockpit is hermetically sealed against the hull, and is supplied through an intake on the roof with fresh air. The fuel tanks are filled with polyurethane, which shall exercise the functions as a scorch inhibitor in the event of an accident as well as surge reducer.
The prototype was referred to as PA 36-260 Pawnee II and made its first flight on November 17, 1969. He was with a 195 kW payable Lycoming O- 540E equipped. It was replaced by the intended for the series Continental 6-285 engine with 210 kW, with which the second prototype was fitted.
The PA -36 was approved on 9 October 1972 by the FAA; the production of PA 36-285 Pawnee Brave began in 1973. Continental engine proved for the rough farm as too unreliable. From 1977, therefore, a Lycoming IO -540 was used with 225 kW. These machines were designated PA -36 -300 from 1978, PA -36 Brave 300 From 1978 was also the more powerful Lycoming IO -720 with initially 280 kW. The machine was externally by the modified engine cover and a three-blade instead of the two-bladed propeller recognizable and called 375 PA -36 Brave. From 1982, an uprated version of the IO -720 was used, the designation PA -36 Brave received with 300 kW 400.
In 1981 the rights to the design of WTA Incorporated were sold, of which the two versions of PA -36 New Brave 375 and PA -36 Brave New marketed 400. WTA built until 1987 still 150 pieces of both versions.
Variants
- PA -36 Pawnee II - Prototype powered by a Lycoming engine with 260 hp
- PA 36-285 Pawnee Brave - production version, powered by a Continental Tiara 6-285 with 285 hp
- PA 36-300 Pawnee Brave 300 - Pawnee Brave, IO -540 - K1G5 powered by an Avco Lycoming 300 hp
- PA 36-375 Brave 375 - variant with an Avco Lycoming IO -720 - D1CD engine with 375 hp
- PA -36 Brave New 375 - WTA variant, powered by a motor with 375 hp
- PA -36 Brave New 400 - WTA variant, powered by a motor with 400 hp