Emair MA-1

{{Short description|American agricultural aircraft}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}  {{Infobox aircraft |name=Paymaster / Diablo 1200 |image=Emair Murrayair MA.1B N9925M HARL 18.10.75 edited-3.jpg |caption=Emair MA-1B at Harlingen Texas in 1975 |type=Agricultural biplane |manufacturer=Emair |designer= |first_flight=1969 |introduction= |retired= |status= |primary_user= |more_users= |produced= |number_built=73 |variants= }}

The '''Emair MA-1 Paymaster''' was a 1960s American agricultural biplane aircraft built by Emair, which was part of the Hawaiian Murray company. The prototype was constructed and flown in New Zealand, with production aircraft built in the United States at Harlingen, Texas.

==Development== The prototype '''Murrayair MA-1''' was built by Air New Zealand on behalf of Murrayair Limited of Hawaii, United States. Based on the Stearman 75 Kaydet, it had an increased wing area and modification to the forward fuselage to accommodate a pilot (in a raised cockpit for better visibility), a jump seat (used to carry an assistant or mechanic between stations), and a chemical hopper. The fixed tailwheel landing gear was strengthened and a more powerful Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial engine fitted. It first flew in New Zealand on 27 July 1969, then it was dismantled and shipped to Hawaii to obtain United States type certification; certification was awarded on 14 April 1970.<ref name="Janes 71 p360">{{harvnb|Taylor|1971|p=360}}</ref>

==Production and development== Emair began production of the aircraft at Harlingen in Texas. The production aircraft were named '''Agronemair MA-1 Paymaster''' at first, then designated the '''Emair MA-1 Paymaster'''. Production ended in 1976 after 25 had been built.<ref name="Janes 80p333">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=333}}</ref>

In 1975 Emair developed an improved version, the '''Emair MA-1B Diablo 1200''', which was essentially an MA-1 with a more powerful Wright R-1820 radial engine. The more powerful engine did not increase the maximum takeoff weight but allowed operations at higher altitudes, and its lower output speed helped reduce propeller noise.

Forty-eight MA-1s had been built by early 1980, with production being suspended by the end of the year due to poor market conditions.<ref>{{harvnb|Taylor|1981|p=349}}</ref> At the end of the 1980s the company halted production after a further 23 Diablos had been built.<ref>{{harvnb|Simpson|1991|p=349}}</ref>

==Variants== ;Murrayair MA-1 :New Zealand-built prototype with a 600hp (447kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN1 Wasp radial engine. ;Emair MA-1 Paymaster :Production aircraft, 25 built. ;Emair MA-1B Diablo 1200 :Improved version with a 900hp (671 kW) de-rated Wright R-1820 radial engine, 48 built.

==Specifications (Diablo 1200)== {{Aircraft specs |ref=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1980–81<ref name="jawa80p3334">{{Harvnb|Taylor|1980|pp=333–334}}</ref> |prime units? = imp |crew=One |capacity={{convert|475|USgal|impgal L|abbr=on}} hopper, {{convert|3000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} load |length ft=30 |length in=0 |length note=(tail up) |upper span ft=41 |upper span in=8 |lower span ft=35 |lower span in=0 |height ft=11 |height in=9 |height note=(tail down) |wing area sqft=400 |airfoil=NACA 4412 (modified) |empty weight lb=4250 |max takeoff weight lb=8400 |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Wright R-1820 radial piston engine |eng1 hp=900 |eng1 note=(derated from {{convert|1200|hp|kW|abbr=on}} |prop blade number=3 |prop name=Hamilton Standard Hydromatic constant-speed propeller |prop dia ft=10 |prop dia in=0 |prop dia note=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph=117 |max speed note=CAS |never exceed speed mph=148 |never exceed speed note=CAS |stall speed mph=53 |stall speed note=(power on) |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=1700 |climb rate note= }}

==See also== {{aircontent |related= |similar aircraft= * Grumman Ag Cat * Snow S-2 |lists= |see also= }}

==References== {{Reflist}} {{commons category|Emair MA-1}} {{Refbegin}} * The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 1600. * {{cite book |editor-last=Taylor |editor-first=John W. R. |title=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1971–72 |year=1971 |location=London |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd. |isbn=0-354-00094-2}} * {{cite book |editor-last=Taylor |editor-first=John W. R. |title=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1980–81 |year=1980 |location=London |publisher=Jane's |isbn=0-7106-0705-9}} *{{cite book|editor-last=Taylor|editor-first=John W. R. |editor-link=John W. R. Taylor |title=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1981–82|year=1981|publisher=Jane's Publishing Company|location=London|isbn=0-7106-0729-6}} *{{cite book |last=Simpson |first= R.W.|title= Airlife's General Aviation|year=1991 |publisher= Airlife Publishing|location= England |isbn=1-85310-194-X}} {{Refend}}

Category:1960s United States agricultural aircraft MA-1 Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Category:Biplanes Category:Aircraft first flown in 1969 Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear Category:Single-engined piston aircraft