DRACO - The Most Badass Monster Bush Plane EVER! 

For more footage of Draco in action check out Mike's first official day in the backcountry: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-D5Z2VNTFp-Q.html 👍

I am a machinist. To me, that was the most impressive part of this build. He would literally have an idea, sit at his PC and draw it up, convert it to CNC language and then machine the parts himself. If you have no technical ability, you cannot imaging how incredible that feat in and of itself is. Here's the "normal" routine. You get an idea and then you go to a design house. At this point, you're on the clock and paying money. They take your idea of what you need, then they run it by their in-house team to come up with a design. Once they do, a month later, they call you back in to approve the design. If you do agree, you sign the print and then it goes to fabrication. Once it's made depending on how complex it is and machine availability, you're looking at 2-8 weeks. They call you back in and if it's good, you take it and then go to another shop to anodize/paint/plate and a month after that, you have your part. Not Mike. That three month process is sometimes done in 24 hours. Amazing.

I think Draco is the highlight and mascot of Oshkosh 2018...

Nice to hear someone on YT who's enthusiastic and can express himself in full, concise, articulate sentences

R.I.P. DRACO, the most badass bush plane ever built. You will be missed.

A pilot with that much knowledge of his gear and the mechanical skills makes any plane so much safer. Great video!

As a Polish whose emotionally attached to Wilgas- Thank You Mike!

"almost every wilga in existence has been ground looped" RIP DRACO :'(

Rest in Peace Draco... Sad to see you go, but thank you for keeping Mike safe. Planes can always be replaced, people can't. Keep flying and I can't wait to see what Draco Version 2.0!

pretty impressed with his technical knowledge. Loved that he personally crafted so much of the plane, not just paying somebody else to do it.

My dad bought one of the first Wilgas in the US back in 1977, we used to go flying every 2nd or 3rd week from Chino Airport in SoCal. I still remember going through the pre-flight and having to drag the prop through a half dozen rotations to drain the oil from the lower cylinders. We never got the takeoff roll down to 118 feet (!) but I do remember taking off in some pretty dang short distances - he would then crank it up to a 30 degree climb and head out to the desert - still one of the most thrilling memories of my life. Another great memory was taking the thing up to 14,000 feet or so for its certification, my Dad kept telling me and my high school buddy to keep checking each others lips and fingernails to make sure they weren't turning blue. No problem there, the big problem was coming back down - it seems that the original engine had auto-lean but not auto-rich so it conked out at around 10,000 feet and my Dad had to go through the entire restart procedure twice while deadsticking it, and this with a compressed air starter that only had a few shots at most. In the end he got it started, then flew down to San Diego where we got lost in clouds and almost landed at Miramar by mistake. My friend never flew with me again after that ! PS - I know all about the ground looping issue - my Dad and flew to Nevada to register his purchase of the plane (a tax thing I think), on the way back we stopped somewhere in the desert and he looped it so hard we had fuel spilling out of the top of the wing. My dad is gone now, by I had some pretty great memories of that plane, I was amazed to see what they did to it.

Mike is an enigma to me. I've not met the man, but I am convinced that he is one of those truly wealthy people that is oddly humble about himself, even as he's bragging about his toys. I've known a few like that, so far. Interesting people.

I’m not “into planes” but this thing is badass. That landing / launch is insanely short.

I've gotta say his explanation doesn't do justice. He has a youtube channel that documents the building process. This guy is an extremely talented fabricator and has a great attitude........ pun intended. I'd love to be friends with guy.

Fuel tank design = genius. Mike is so generous with his explanations.

The massive smile on his face when the jets fly over in formation gives the game away about a true enthusiast! Great guy! Hope to see more of his projects soon

I came across this video by accident. This was one of the most interesting and new things I came across. I watched it from beginning to the end with a BIG SMILE on my face. I could feel his happiness and love for his planes and engineering. It made my day. What a happy man. Made me happy as well :)

Not a pilot, but an engineer and know a bit about flying. This is truly amazing. What a great plane

Can't take money with you! Live and enjoy it. The coolest part about this to me is that Mike built it, he did the engineering, and the work. There are plenty of folks with money, but most pay someone else to build them something cool. I come from the built not bought mentality and I have so much respect for the work Mike did. He is amazingly talented! For anyone who hasn't seen the build videos, search Mike Patey and watch the build logs! You won't be disappointed to see what went into this massive project.

I miss her, cant wait for DRACO version 2.0!!

One of the most technically fascinating videos I’ve seen! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 As an aviation engineer I was hanging on to every piece of information, in complete admiration of Mike’s dedication and professionalism as a pilot and engineer. A simply stunning aircraft!

You are one of a few on youtube who can make a 20-minute long video and have it feel like 5 minutes. GREAT JOB!!!

Yes! Exactly what I wanted. A Trent Palmer video on Draco. Thanks.

This plane was the closest I’ve ever seen to a 3D- RC plane. The oversized control surfaces and power to weight ratio were incredible.

It's refreshing to listen to a guy who knows his craft and can explain it with enthusiasm.

Mike is a very sympathetic guy, a joy listening to him explaining the stuff i don't know nothing about.

I sometimes get bored watching videos of knowledgeable people talking about their sweet projects, but i could listen to this guy for hours...this awesome plane is one of a kind, and its pilot truly deserves to own it...Cheers Mike \m/

Thank you for your wonderful aircraft. It made my day!

That take off and landing is insane!

Mike is the John Force of bush planes.

Hi PZL-104 Wilga has been developed in '60s in Poland :) and here we're using Wilga mostly for towing gliders. It's really interesting plane. Greetings from Poland :)

You have to respect the man and you can see his pride in what he himself built.

5:55 "It's a gas guzzler but not compared to..." Shreeeeroommmmm Perfect timing.

I love Mike’s honesty with the whole thing. What a cool guy. Look forward to seeing more of home in some group flights.

This guy is an aviation genius. He needs to market this airplane.

13:44 “May I never use it...” This was some next level foresight from someone who has been around and seen a few things. *And* he can integrate his experiences to create safer solutions for his aircraft. Such a pleasure to observe the wisdom emanating from this pilot.

Ive never flown any aircraft. Only travelled in one like nearly everybody. Stumbled across this vid by accident and am absolutly loving it. These guys have such passion for flying. I could listen to this guy all day

Thanks Trent! What a privilege ot is to see this and all the hard work put into explained so well. And thanks to Mike for sharing with us, beautiful aircraft, and you deserve a big hell ya. Impressive work and the passion reeks with havoc :)

A humble genius. Rare and a privilege to witness

Just watched Mikes full Draco build series of videos. Wow what a guy. His drive, knowledge and winning personality are amazing. The true definition of the American Dream.

Mike it is mint, love it and will say it again, genuine and humble dude. Btw thanks Trent, was mint!

Wow! Vision, passion, follow-through, mission accomplished. Tweakmaster!

Bring them back into production! And with these upgrades.

Hes a great communicator!

This fella just seems like a truly cool and honest guy. Good luck in flying your cool plane and be safe.

Besides its performance, this is just the most beautiful plane in the world. Really hope it will fly again.

Mike Patey, a genius and a legend. Lift-off in 3 seconds!

That interview was great and I love listening to Mike talk. You asked all the right questions. I didn't understand half the things you were talking about but then he would explain how those changes helped his flying style. It gave me chills. Thanks

I just realized I was smiling for 20 minutes and 36 seconds! LOL!! AMAZING!!!!

RIP Draco, I hope it will some day be back, more badass then ever!

I really liked Mike's personality very well informed and knows his business.... great video..

Thanks for sharing. Remarkably lucid observations and explanation by Mike. Even as someone w/no experience in this field I found it (mostly)(!) understandable, as well as interesting. Thanks to Mike for his sharing about his plane too!

With all the improvements in design, they could put that thing back into production as a "B" model.

This was the first time I saw Draco. I was enthralled. I had been anxious to see her fly at some point. Such a sad loss.

I am happy to see I am not alone in saying that I could listen to this guy talk all day. HE is very engaging, interesting, and great personality. The unique plane helps of course,

I grew up in Anchorage, Alaska next to Merrill Field, the busiest bush plane airport to my knowledge. I have seen so many hot rod planes, none of which hold a candle to this one right here. Well done, sir.

That plane is so awesome. I like how when he said it was a gass guzzler that’s when the Blue Angels flew by. Great video and man the Draco is a beast.

Revisiting this vid after a few years, cool to see the development in both Mike and Trent's channels over the years. Fly high - take calculated chances - live on.

RIP, Draco. so glad Mike and family/friends are ok. Draco will be missed

What an awesome plane! Thanks for sharing.

What a hell of a nice guy. Great interview!

You can tell Mike is an awesome dude , very knowledgeable he seems like he would be a great guy to be friends with or even work for if he was your boss. I'm a professional welder by trade and can truly appreciate all the mechanical aptitude and ability along with his creativity that went into this high of a quailty built machine well done.

Great interview, thank you. Amazing ingenuity in this plane while looking aggressive!! Well done

The "Wilga"is a polish built utility aircraft, produced from 1962 until 2008. 1.000 plane where manufactered. The Draco is amazing, only the cabin and the tail section remind to the Wilga. Perfect designed and well done!

Mike seems such a great character, and it's obvious how passionate he is about his flying.

YOU MUST REBUILD….. YOU Must!!🇺🇸⭐️

So much knowledge, ambition and drive in 1 man!

Wilga was designed and manufactured in Poland by Panstwowe Zaklady Lotnicze (hence PZL in the model number). Wilga means oriole in Polish. It was originally designated as a small crop duster but has been used to pull sailplanes up, drop parachutists and any other general duties. Follow up design was bigger plane named Dromader (Polish name for single hump camel) Look up a picture of that plane and you will see why they chose that name.

This guy is a total LEGEND. Imagine him as your best friend!

So sad to look back on this, what a great plane it was. Mike, we feel your pain, buddy. You're still the greatest!

Wow! His ability to engineer out plains short comings is impressive. Most people can recognize problems and brainstorm potential remedies but lack the ability to engineer the fix. This man not only engineers the fix, he implements them in real time....the take off distance is awesome. Please post footage showcasing flight abilities.

DRACO , it's a beast. But Trent your Kit Fox has nothing but real character and class !

You have no idea how stoked I was to see that video title. And that the video is 20 minutes long. :D

Mike such a knowledgeable guy and a personality, what an awesome guy

WOW! This guy loves his machine! How cool is it to be that skilled in order to do all those mods. Thanks for showing!

Great insight of this plane. Great interview and money is simply a tool for more options 👍🏾

Absolutely great video. And Mike's enthusiasm is contagious. Phenomenal aircraft, and unlike a lot of airplane drivers, he has about the best understanding of what that plane is doing as well as what it means that I have ever encountered. Man, would I ever love to get my hands on the controls of this baby. But I'd gladly settle for a ride in the cargo compartment.

Hands down the best ground demo video I've ever seen. I'm completely awestruck by the alterations and cannot help but feel completely lost trying to determine the center of gravity ...where (now) is the fulcrum? How important is it to know? Can someone pipe up and help me out here? I figured the plane with those modifications had to be about a million bucks! My guess was right on. A 4K FPM climb blew my mind! Just saw the last footage ...how on earth did this happen? I cannot imagine ...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do not claim to know much about planes but I am very impressed with the fuel supply modifications.

The most dashing and passionate lover of aircrafts Mr Mike is... Thank you so much.

who else watching this during quarantine ?

This plane is "Wilga" read as "Vilhga" produced in Poland since late 60s till now, the name means bird "oriole". Wilga is the best smal 1 engine plane in its class in the world, short start & landing. On Wilga Polish pilots win many times the european & world championships in "precision flights". On this movie you see capabilities of this plane even with original radial engine it can start & land on skyscraper roof & it is very easy to fly.

That thing is insane. Love it.

That is a beautiful plane. I can appreciate all the engineering that this has. Damn

Trent I absolutely love your music/song selection you use on your videos.

Thanks for keeping the Wilga alive! This is the coolest one! Greetings from Poland!

Some Polish Wilga's history (sorry for translation). Versions : • Wilga 35A - basic version designed for aeroclubs, equipped with a hook for towing gliders, manufactured since 1968. • Wilga 35H - version of a seaplane on floats, created in Polish-Canadian cooperation, flown on October 31, 1979 (in Canada). • Wilga 35P - the flown version flown in 1968 differs from the 35A version only by the lack of a towing hitch. Aircraft of this type are used by Polish military airforce. • Wilga 35R - agricultural version flown in 1978 taking 300 liters of chemicals. • Wilga 35S - sanitary version flown in 1968. One aircraft was created for Polish sanitary aviation. • Wilga 40 - modified version of the Wilga 35 flown in 1969 (it had moving slats and a plate tail). Only 2 prototypes were created. • Wilga 80 - adjusted to American regulations (FAR), serial version from 1979 equipped with PZL AI-14RA engine. • Wilga 80/1400 (80H) - a 1982 float version driven by the PZL AI-14RD engine with a power of 206 kW (280 HP). • Wilga 88 - development version developed from 1983 to the end of the 1980s. The main task of the designers was to improve the speed characteristics of the aircraft. This was planned to be achieved by effectively reducing the aerodynamic drag. A new lightweight flap without a slot was used, with a light, single brace and a thoroughly modified chassis. From the previous models, Wilga differed, among other things, the number of passengers increased to 5. For this reason, the fuselage was changed. In general, it was a structure so far removed from the Wilga plane that it was called the new Flaming structure. The first prototype was flown on November 9, 1989, the flight test was carried out by the first pilot class mgr inż. Jerzy Jędrzejewski. A total of three machines were created: two prototypes with M-14P and AI-14RDP engines (its license version) and PZL-105L with Textron Lycoming IO-720 engine with 295 kW (400 HP), which was to give rise to the export version. It also assumed the production of a sports version, passenger-passenger version (for 4-5 passengers or 450 kg of cargo), agricultural (with a tank for 500 kg of chemicals) and patrol, sanitary and geological. The main problem of the prototype during the flights was improper stall characteristics, which did not allow the aircraft to be used. The financial problems of the PZL factory in Okecie as well as the priority production of the PZL-130 Orlik ordered by the army, caused the Wilga development project to be suspended, stopping at the production of the Wilga 2000 aircraft. • PZL-104M Wilga 2000 - version with the Lycoming boxer engine, modified wing (including the removed slot above the fuselage) and improved aerodynamics, produced since 1998, used by aeroclubs. • PZL-104MF Wilga 2000 - patrol version for the Border Guard. • PZL-104MN Wilga 2000 - version from 2001. • PZL-104MW Wilga 2000 Hydro - float type variant Wilga 2000 flown on September 19, 1999. • PZL-104MA Wilga 2000 - the version was created in 2005 in cooperation with EADS. More streamlined engine bonnet, elongated shaft and three-blade propeller. Attention is also paid to the fin in front of the vertical stabilizer and winglet. The distribution of instruments inside the cabin was also changed and avionics enriched. These changes resulted in improved flight characteristics (speed, range), with deterioration of STOL features and slightly greater noise than the drive unit. I am glad that you are delighted with this plane. This is probably the legend of Polish aviation. :* :* :*

Awesome little BRUTE Plane and AWESOME OWNER . What a cool Dude . Thumbs-up , Loud Applause . Clearly a Man with a Real Passion for what he does .

Wow. Mike is an amazing and nice guy. Radical plane. So cool.

Mike has to be the happiest pilot I've ever heard & I Can see Why ! His engineering skills are Execellent ! And his Aircraft is bar none the most interesting I've ever seen ! and I've worked on and arround Aircraft over 25 years ! Go Mike !! .. love watching your channel !!

Great video and interview Trent, thank for all the facts!

Amazing plane and I admire his depth of knowledge and engineering skill. He buillt the tanks, the wings, my gosh. Also hes so enthusiastic and happy I would love to hang out with this guy and his aviation buddies.

Proud to fly the 2m scale RC model of this. The most insane STOL plane ever. Thanks Mike 🤘🇦🇺

One pretty plane. I was stopped in my tracks when I first saw it .✌️🤞

Now I want a bush plane! But not any bush plane; just this one....

Airplanes and the people that fly and build them are awesome!

This chap is a true pilot/engineer.

Wow. Great Draco expo! This vid rocks Trent. Will rise again.

Like Richard Bach ( of Jonathan Livingston Seagull fame) says, there is a passionate fraternity of flyers that is definitively different than everyday aviators. This gentleman -- a true flyer -- has as much tech depth as he does magnetism and charisma. Here is a soul who deserves the best of what the sky has to offer.

That is the coolest plane I've ever seen. I could actually take off and land it in my own backyard(if I could fly) . Crazy