PZL M-15 Belphegor
The M-15 Belphegor is an agricultural aircraft PZL Mielec the Polish manufacturer.
History
It was developed in 1971 as a joint project of the CMEA under the direction of K. Gocyla - mainly to replace the mass used in the Soviet Union An-2. As a result, the only biplane in aviation history with turbojets arose. For attempts to use the exhaust gas stream of the engine to increase the spread of chemicals was determined on a modified on -2 ( " LaLa -1" ) is additionally installed and tested in June 1971, the AI -25 drive to the normal radial engine. The test pattern first flew on 10 February 1972. A second experimental aircraft for the Study of aerodynamic characteristics was using the M -15 hull in combination with the wings and landing gear of an An- 14th The first flight of the designated as LLM -15 type was held on 30 May 1973.
The first flight of the M-15 Belphegor ( 1-02 ) took place on 9 January 1974. 1975 produced some pre-production sample that were tested in the Soviet Union under working conditions. Then some improvements on the wings, the air intake of the engine and on the form of the chemical containers were still made. Optionally a Bestaubungs, Besprühungs or Beneblungsanlage could be installed to distribute the chemicals. In the GDR, the aircraft was tested at ACZ Damgarten under operating conditions of 20 April to 3 August 1979.
It was originally planned to make this type of over 3000 machines. In addition to their main function were among the other fire fighting, cargo and passenger aircraft variants, optionally also with float or snow sled chassis, planned. However, it was built in 1976 only a small series (120 units), because the use of results showed that the machines were extremely uneconomical due to the high fuel consumption (460 kg of kerosene per hour). The use remained small-scale and limited to Soviet agriculture. The production ended in 1981.
A few copies are now in museums, for example, in Monino ( near Moscow ), in Krakow.