PZL M-18 Dromader Firefighter in Greece 1/48

IBG Models 1/48 scale model kit. 

The PZL M-18 Dromader is a Polish single-engine, low-wing aircraft originally developed in the 1970s for agricultural use, such as crop spraying, and later adapted for aerial firefighting and other utility roles. Built by PZL-Mielec, it features a robust radial piston engine and a large chemical/water hopper capable of dropping thousands of liters of liquid, making it effective for both agricultural and fire-suppression missions. The design has proven adaptable and durable, leading to hundreds of units produced and exported worldwide.

In Greece, the Hellenic Air Force is operating Dromaders primarily as firefighting aircraft with the 359th MAEDY (Public Services Air Support Unit) based at Tatoi airbase near Athens. Greece received around thirty single-seat M-18Bs in the early 1980s and three two-seat M-18BS trainers in 2002 to support training and operational readiness. These aircraft are deployed seasonally across the country, flying sorties from dawn to dusk during the fire season to detect and suppress wildfires. Despite occasional losses due to the dangers of aerial firefighting, the Dromaders have been a backbone of Greece’s aerial fire response for over four decades, often receiving local modifications such as enhanced water release controls and other mission-specific upgrades.