DracoX is available with the following liveries: Patey Aviation, Special (Previously Military).
DracoX is a 4-seat, turboprop-powered, short take-off and landing (STOL) light utility airplane. It is a next-generation, multi-role machine created to meet the most demanding backcountry and adventure aviation needs. DracoX is an evolutionary development of the one-of-a-kind Draco, a highly modified PZL-104MA Wilga 2000 (originally manufactured by Polish aerospace firm PZL).
The story of DracoX began with the original Draco (Latin for dragon). Aviator Mike Patey developed Draco to be the “ultimate bush plane.” The original Draco was powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-28 turboprop engine that, through a gear reduction drive, delivered up to 680 horsepower to an MT 4-blade, reversible propeller. Draco’s wing was carefully redesigned from the original Wilga 2000 wing based on a detailed laser scan. Both the span and the chord length of the wing were increased, as were the sizes of the ailerons and flaps. The wing also featured carbon fiber tip skids to mitigate damage caused by inadvertent ground strikes. Several other improvements and innovations added to Draco’s impressive capabilities. These included a fuel system that provided uninterrupted fuel flow despite pitch or roll angle, an enhanced landing gear suspension, state-of-the-art avionics, night vision capabilities, and powerful landing lights (the same used on the Boeing 737).
Draco could launch with just 78 feet of ground roll and land in 110 feet. It climbed at up to 4,000 feet per minute, cruised at 160 miles per hour, and had a stall speed of just 35 miles per hour. It won several STOL competitions in its class, including at the Valdez STOL Competition, the High Sierra Fly In, and at Oshkosh.
DracoX is an evolution of the original Draco and elevates STOL performance to never-before-seen levels. The aircraft incorporates ten major improvements into the original Draco design, all based on careful analysis of Draco’s real-world performance.
DracoX is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6-140 that, through a gearbox, delivers 867 horsepower to a 5-blade MT composite propeller. Engineers added 3 inches of chord to the wing, increasing slow-speed performance without adding noticeable drag. Aileron length was increased by 2 feet for greater roll control at slow speeds and during high angle-of-attack maneuvers. Internally, the wing of DracoX incorporates a double spar for bolstered strength, ensuring structural integrity during high-g maneuvers and rough landings as well as increasing payload capacity. The wing also retains the protective carbon fiber tip systems used on the original Draco.
DracoX has an improved landing gear system featuring in-line shock absorbers and large tundra tires. Its fuel supply system is an improvement of the one used in the original Draco. It has a thermal infrared night vision visualization suite, high-intensity Whelen Aerospace Technologies LED landing lights, and state-of-the-art Garmin flat-panel avionics. The cabin comfortably holds four passengers and includes a high-altitude oxygen system.
DracoX, classed by the FAA as an experimental exhibition aircraft, was designed for a wide spectrum of uses. It has wing hardpoints capable of holding external stores including dirt bikes or external pods. Its cabin can be easily configured (including removable doors) for cargo purposes or special applications such as aerial photography or videography. Its landing gear can accommodate skis for glacier operations.
DracoX delivers on the promise of being the most robust, most capable backcountry and adventure STOL aircraft ever developed. It can take-off and land in shorter distances than the original Draco, climb faster, has a slower stall speed, cruises faster, and has a greater payload capability, both internally and externally. It boasts exceptional high density altitude performance, top-level flight efficiency, and unmatched maneuverability and ruggedness. It is a masterful fusion of power, aerodynamic design, and structural integrity.
VERSION 0.1.4 RELEASED OCTOBER 4, 2025
VERSION 0.0.1 RELEASED MAY 31, 2024
VERSION 0.0.2 RELEASED JUNE 30, 2024
VERSION 0.0.3 RELEASED JULY 31, 2024
VERSION 0.0.4 RELEASED AUGUST 31, 2024
VERSION 0.0.5 RELEASED SEPTEMBER 5, 2024
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VERSION 0.0.7 RELEASED OCTOBER 3, 2024
VERSION 0.0.8 RELEASED OCTOBER 25, 2024
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VERSION 0.1.0 RELEASED NOVEMBER 12, 2024
VERSION 0.1.1 RELEASED JANUARY 8, 2025
VERSION 0.1.2 RELEASED MARCH 11, 2025
VERSION 0.1.3 RELEASED SEPTEMBER 25, 2025