, then known as WSK-Mielec, began to design the Dromader in the mid 1970s, with help of United Statesaircraft manufacturerRockwell International. PZL-Mielec asked for Rockwell's help because of the political situation at the time: operating in an Eastern Bloccountry, PZL wanted the aircraft to sell well worldwide, and the company realized that certification by the United States Federal Aviation Administration would be important in reaching that goal. Rockwell on the other hand wanted to fit Polish high-power radial engines into its agricultural planes. As a result of this cooperation the Rockwell Thrush Commander aircraft was fitted with the PZL-3 engine, and the Polish designers created the higher payload M-18 Dromader by introducing the more powerful ASz-62 engine, making structural changes to the airframe, and increasing dimensions. This co-operation meant that the Dromader shares outer wing panels and part of a fuselage with the Thrush Commander. The first prototype of the aircraft flew on August 27, 1976. In September 1978, the aircraft was given certification to fly in Poland. Certifications from many countries around the world followed soon. Many aircraft of the M-18 type and its variations can still be seen around the world. They were sold to 24 countries, over 200 are used in the US. In 2008, fifteen were sold to China. In 2012, PZL-Mielec was still selling models M-18B and M-18BS, with 759 built in total., the Dromader was sold by PZL-Mielec, but the production has been halted. The produced aircraft are still refurbished instead, with new engines. There are plans to acquire rights and renew the production in WZL-2 in Bydgoszcz.
Variants
;M-18:original one-seat production version, available for special orders only. ;M-18A:two seater available from 1984 onwards. Allows a mechanic or chemical loader to be carried as a passenger to remote fields. ;M-18AS:two-cockpit trainer version ;M-18B:refined version of M-18A with increased capacity, flown in 1993. ;M-18BS:two-cockpit trainer. ;M-18C:version with more powerful 895 kW Kalisz K-9 engine. Flown in 1995 but not produced. ;M-18/T45 Turbine Dromader:turboprop powered with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-45 engine. First flew in 1985 and was given FAA certification in April 1986. ;M-21 Dromader Mini:smaller variant, flown in 1982, not produced. ;M-24 Dromader Super:bigger variant, flown in 1987, not produced. ;M-25 Dromader Mikro:smaller variant, sketch only. ;AII AVA-303:The M-18 is being built in Iran as the AVA-303.
The Dromader is in service with aerial agriculture and other companies in many countries, operating in a variety of roles. The former Yugoslav Airline, Jugoslovenski Aerotransport, used it for cropspraying.
