Certifying HyperSTOL

The four-seat Draco aircraft is based on the Polish PZL-104 Wilga, and was modified by engineer and pilot Mike Patey and introduced at EAA AirVenture in 2018 as Draco.

Now six years later, Draco Aircraft has acquired all the designs and intellectual property rights as well as the original type certificate from Airbus Poland to give the out-of-production Wilga a new lease of life. Patey has also given the company the green light to utilize his design concepts. The company plans to apply for Part 23 type certification with EASA and the FAA.

Draco Aircraft was founded in 2023 and is led by former CEO of Airbus Poland Johannes von Thadden. Draco’s chief engineering advisor Tomasz Wolf was the former head of design for Wilga at Airbus Poland.

“Our cooperation with Draco Aircraft will allow to continue the proud history of ‘Wilga’ and with ‘Draco’ will add another jewel to Poland’s aviation expertise,” said Airbus Poland’s Managing Director Javier Medina. “Airbus Poland will not only transfer the intellectual property rights, the type certificate, and tooling, but also support Draco Aircraft with the EASA-required design services until Draco Aircraft will have certified its own design organization.”

Draco’s flagship HyperSTOL will be powered by a 680-shaft-horsepower Pratt & Whitney PT6A-28 turboprop engine paired with MT-Propeller’s 102-inch, four-blade composite propeller.

“Draco will come in several versions: first, the aircraft for private customers, then a version for public customers for safety purposes, e.g. for border control, then an aircraft with electric propulsion, and finally a version for military needs. Draco will become a whole aircraft family responding to different needs,” said von Thadden.

The company plans to start taking firm orders with payments in the second or third quarter of 2025. Each aircraft will be factory assembled in Poland and shipped worldwide. A maintenance center final assembly line is planned to open in Spanish Fork, Utah, the same location as Patey Aviation Business Park currently in development.

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