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Spraying System
The spraying system is what sets an ag plane apart from other beefy- winged aircraft with a turbine engine. Chemicals are transferred to the hop- per from an exterior storage source in the same fashion that the aircraft is fueled through a single point. When needed during f light, the chemicals are drawn from the hopper by pres- sure caused by the pump driven by the air that rotates the system’s propeller under the front of the aircraft. The liquids are routed down the length of the aircraft and out through one of the few dozen nozzles under the wing, where it is spritzed upon the crops below.
GPS/Computer Software
One of the stark differences be- tween ag planes of today and those of the past are the complex computer systems the pilots utilize to help guide them along the spraying path as well as advise on the amount of chemicals
to off load. Jim walked me through some of the software, of which one de- vice, the Satloc G4, stores each flight’s data – down to how many chemicals were sprayed and on which portions of the subject property. After a flight, these details are exported to the com- pany’s computers to demonstrate to customers where the pilots applied chemicals. Coupled with modern glass instruments, air conditioning and ADS-B, the digs inside of these planes rival that of other aircraft in this magazine.
Aircraft Construction
A key focus of the industry and its pilots in recent years has been risk reduction, with several educational programs and initiatives developed. While they have seen high levels of success, all risks cannot be eliminat- ed, and it is statistically low that a pilot will not have a crash during their ca- reer. Jim notes that the AT-802A, like most ag planes, “flies and is built like a racecar.” With the cockpit constructed
out of 4130 Chrome Moly tubing in a roll cage style and fronted by polycar- bonate windows, the helmeted and often Nomex-suit wearing pilots are relatively safe in their airbag-equipped five-point harnesses.
Flying Demo
While the weather was unfortu- nately not conducive for a day of crop dusting, Jim was kind enough to offer me the opportunity to photograph a couple of low passes. After towing N803HB from storage, down the gravel road, and into a spot adjacent to the chemical loading spot, it was time for startup.
Upon hearing the turbine kick over, it wasn’t long before the plane was air- borne and I got more of a feel for what the aircraft was capable of. While not laden down with much fuel or spray, it was still surprising to see how nimble the 36-foot (fuselage) by 59-foot (wing) bright yellow aircraft is. In simple man’s terms, ag operators spray a field
14 • TWIN & TURBINE / August 2020
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