Aerial Distributors Distributor Wing
# Aerial Distributors Distributor Wing

The Distributor Wing DW-1 was a prototype agricultural aircraft of unorthodox design, designed by Ken Razak in the United States and marketed by Aerial Distributors in the 1960s.

## Design

Developed with assistance from NASA, the University of Wichita and the University of Robbins, California, the aircraft was unusual in that it had a second engine mounted directly below its main powerplant, using this second motor to power a distribution system that used compressed air to carry dry chemicals from a hopper and blow them out of the trailing edges of its wings, over the flaps. Varying the power of this blower engine also provided lift control.

## Flight testing and cancellation

First flown on January 30, 1965, the DW-1 was flight tested over several years, with the cowling being revised during testing. Development was terminated by economic conditions in the fertilizer market.

## Specifications (Production DW-1)

Data from

General characteristics

* Crew: 1
* Capacity: 39.9 cubic feet (1.13 $m^3)$ hopper capacity
* Length: 28 ft 4 in (8.64 m)
* Wingspan: 43 ft 10 in (13.36 m)
* Height: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) to top of canopy
* Wing area: 240 sq ft (22 $m^2)$
* Max takeoff weight: 5,200 lb (2,359 kg)
* Fuel capacity: 60 US gallons (230 L; 50 imp gal)
* Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming IGO-540 six-cylinder horizontally opposed piston engine, 350 hp (260 kW)
* Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-235 four-cylinder horizontally opposed piston engine, 108 hp (81 kW) powering spraying and dusting gear
* Propellers: 3-bladed Hartzell Propeller variable-pitch, 8 ft 8 in (2.64 m) diameter

Performance

* Cruise speed: 150 kn (170 mph, 280 km/h)
* Stall speed: 40 kn (46 mph, 74 km/h) empty
* Rate of climb: 350 ft/min (1.8 m/s)
