CallAir A-9

File:Callair A-9 N8234H (4818166805).jpg

N8234H, an original CallAir A-9 c/n 1211, before they were taken over by IMCO, and later by Rockwell Aero Commander

For the USAF unmanned Quail drone aircraft, see ADM-20 Quail.

The IMCO CallAir A-9 is an agricultural aircraft that first flew in 1962, a development of the company's previous successful crop-dusters. It is typical of aircraft of its type - a single-seat aircraft with a low wing incorporating spraying gear.

Design and development

The Call Aircraft Company (CAC) had built the CallAir Model A series of light utility and agricultural aircraft. Following the purchase of CAC in 1962 by Intermountain Manufacturing Company (IMCO) the latter produced a new agricultural derivative of the Callair, the CallAir A-9. Production of the new aircraft started in 1963.<ref name="JAWA65 p246-7">Taylor 1965, pp. 246–247.</ref>

Like the earlier CallAir aircraft, the A-9 is a single-engined monoplane with a braced low wing. It is of mixed construction, with a fabric-covered steel-tube fuselage structure and a wood-and-fabric wing. The pilot sits behind the chemical hopper, and the cockpit is enclosed by two removable, bottom-hinged doors that form the left and right side windows. The aircraft is powered by a single Lycoming O-540 flat-six piston engine.<ref name="JAWA65 p246-7"/><ref name="manual">"A-9 Owners Manual: Serials 1048, 1111, 1117 & Up" Template:Webarchive. Retrieved 23 February 2013.</ref> Later, some A-9s have been adapted for glider towing operations.

IMCO was in turn purchased by Rockwell International in 1966, which built the plane under its Aero Commander division before shifting production to Mexico in 1971, under a joint venture there called AAMSA. Production ceased in 1984.

Variants

A-9

Original variant, powered by a 235 hp (175 kW) Lycoming O-540-B2B5. Built by CallAir,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> IMCO and Aero Commander (as the Sparrow Commander)

A-9B (Super)

Version with 290 hp (216 kW) Lycoming IO-540 or Lycoming TIO-540.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> Built by Aero Commander (as the Quail Commander).

B-1

Enlarged A-9 with a 400 hp (298 kW) Lycoming IO-720-A1A engine and 42 ft 8 in (13.00 m) wingspan. First flight January 15, 1966.<ref name="JAWA66 p261-2">Taylor 1966, pp. 261–262.</ref> Built by IMCO and Aero Commander (as the Snipe Commander). 36 built.<ref name="Airlifep104"/>

AAMSA A9B

Licensed production by Aeronautica Agricola Mexicana SA (AAMSA) powered by Template:Convert Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 engine and Template:Convert hopper. 101 built by AAMSA,<ref name="Janes 82 p155">Taylor 1982, p. 155</ref> with a further 17 assembled from Mexican-built components at Laredo, Texas by Aircraft Parts and Development Corporation.<ref name="Airlifep104"/>

AAMSA A9B-M

Improved version of A9M, with cut down rear fuselage, redesigned cockpit, and increased wing dihedral.<ref name="Janes 82 p155"/> 36 built.<ref name="Airlifep104">Simpson 1995, p. 104</ref>

A9B-M Quail 'Naco'

Two seat military trainer aircraft built in Mexico by AAMSA, based on A9B-M. Single example (EPA-1) preserved at Museo Militar de Aviación - MUMA, Mexico City.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite report
• Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965-66. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1965.
• Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1966-67. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1966.
• Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982-83. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. Template:ISBN.