With an agreement between Industrias Unidas SA of Mexico and Rockwell International, Aeronautica Agricola Mexicana SA (AAMSA) was formed in 1971 to take over from Rockwell manufacture of the Aero Commander Quail Commander and Sparrow Commander agricultural aircraft. They had identical airframes but differed mainly by engine fit. The Sparrow Commander was powered by a 235 hp (175 kW) Lycoming O-540-B2B5 engine, while the Quail was fitted with the more powerful IO-540 engine. Both the Sparrow Commander and Quail Commander were available with liquid spray or dust disperdsal gear, or with a quick change combination dust or spray unit. Production of both types ended in the USA in 1970.
Construction of the Sparrow Commander continued in Mexico, as the AAMSA Sparrow. Only very small numbers had been built by 1975, when production was terminated. Only spares were manufactured in Mexico by AAMSA.
Manufacture then switched to the Quail Commander in 1971, designated A9B-M Quail. 101 A9B were built in Mexico, and by January 1982 26 A9B-M had been built.
The Quail was a braced low-wing monoplane of composite construction. Its wings were based on wooden spars, with metal leading-edge skins and the remainder of the structure fabric covered; fuselage and tail unit were steel tube structures with fabric covering. The wings are Clark Y airfoil. The non-retractable tailwheel had shock absorbtion. The engine had a fixed pitch or optional variable-pitch propeller. The Quail had an enclosed cabin with a steel-tube overturn structure, cable cutters on the landing gear and windscreen, a cable deflector between the canopy and the tail fin, and proivision for avionics and night flying equipment. A 22.5 cu.ft (0.64 cu.m) glassfibre/polyester chemical hopper was fitted as standard with a capacity of 170 USG (643 lt) of liquid or 1200 lb (545 kg) of dry powder chemicals.
The Quail was manufactured in component form at the Industrias Unidas industrial complex at Pasteje in Mexico for assembly and marketing by its associated Aircraft Parts and Development Corp. in Laredo, Texas. By 1978 43 Quails had been built.
Sparrow Commander
Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5, 235 hp (175 kW)
Wingspan: 34 ft 9 in / 10.59 m
Length: 23 ft 6 in / 7.16 m
Empty weight: 1600 lb / 726 kg
Max payload: 1400 lb / 635 kg
MTOW (Agricultural): 3400 lb / 1542 kg
Max cruise 75% / 3000 lb / 1260 kg: 91 kt / 105 mph / 169 kph
Max ROC SL (Agricultural): 650 fpm / 198 m/min
Service ceiling (Agricultural): 14,000 ft / 4265 m
Range max cruise (Agricultural): 260 nm / 300 mi / 483 km
Seats: 1
Hopper capacity: 22.5 cu.ft / 0.64 cu.m / 170 USGal / 643 lt
NA Rockwell Quail Commander
Engine: Lycoming IO-540-G1C5, 290 hp.
Wing span: 34 ft 9 in / 10.59 m
Length: 23 ft 6 in / 7.16 m
Height: 7 ft 7 in / 2.31 m
Max TO weight: 3600 lb / 1633 kg
Max level speed: 120 mph / 193 kph
Hopper capacity: 210 USG / 795 lt
Ag payload: 1600 lb /726 kg
AAMSA A9B-M Quail
Engine: Avco Lycoming IO-540-K1A5, 300 hp.
Wing span: 34 ft 9 in / 15.76m
Length: 24 ft 0 in / 10.89m
Height: 7 ft 8 in / 3.48 m
Wing area: 182 sq.ft / 16.91 sq.m
Empty weight: 1800 lb / 816 kg
MTOW: 3800 lb / 1724 kg
Payload: 1600 lb / 725 kg
Max level speed: 120 mph / 193 kph / 104 kt
Normal operating speed: 90-100 mph / 145-161 kph
ROC: 850 fpm / 259 m/min
Service ceiling: 16,000 ft / 4875 m
Range 50%: 300 sm / 483 km / 260 nm
Hopper capacity: 28.5 cu.ft / 0.81 cu.m / 210 USG / 795 lt
All Aero 