title: Aerial Distributors Distributor Wing
text: # 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)
  