PZL M-20 Mewa
| M-20 Mewa | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| PZL M 20 Mewa -licence version of Piper PA-34 Seneca | |
| Role | Utility aircraft |
| Manufacturer | PZL-Mielec |
| Designer | WSK PZL Mielec |
| First flight | 25 July 1979 |
| Primary user | Polish Air Ambulance Service |
| Number built | 20 |
| Developed from | Piper PA-34 Seneca |
The PZL-Mielec M-20 Mewa (Polish: Gull) is a licence-built version of the Piper PA-34 Seneca II manufactured in Poland by WSK PZL Mielec in a limited series from the 1980s.
A licence to build the PA-34-200T was purchased in 1978, when WSK-Mielec started to co-operate with Western manufacturers. The Polish aircraft were to be fitted with PZL-Franklin F6A-350 220 hp (164 kW) engines. The first Mewa, assembled partly from US-delivered parts, flew on July 25, 1979. However, the Polish communist authorities were reluctant to produce civil aircraft of this class as there was no civil aircraft free market in Poland at that time. As a result, the second prototype, built in Poland, was not flown until 1982 and the third M-20 02, being the basis for serial production, on October 10, 1985. In 1988, an air ambulance version M-20 03 was developed, with Teledyne Continental TSIO/LTSIO-360-KB engines.
After 1990 production of the Mewa commenced for the civilian market. Despite the fact that it won the Teraz Polska award in 1993, interest was very limited and only 33 had been built by the end of 1998.
Four M-20s were used by the Polish Air Ambulance Service. As of 2006, there were still 14 M-20s on the Polish civilian registry. One is used by the Polish Border Guard.
Data from Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000
General characteristics
Performance
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