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in the same method that it would be mowed. Depending on barriers like poles and wires, the pilot will turn around and spray a strip right next to the one that they just laid down and continue until it’s all covered.
Several seconds after tires left the pavement, Jim did a 180-degree turn and pointed the five-bladed propeller right at me. Going about 130 miles per hour, an average spray speed in the aircraft, he buzzed past about 50 feet above me, guided by a laser altimeter. Upon reaching the end of the runway, he immediately pulled the aircraft up, pitched about 60 degrees to the right, and quickly settled it back onto its path parallel to the runway.
Next, he demonstrated a more real- istic height from where crops would be sprayed. With his tires almost kissing the earth, he again made a speedy pass and demonstrated how stable of a platform the aircraft is. Soon, the show was over, and the flying farm machine settled back down. This flight
was only a brief show of the aircraft’s capability and mission, but impressive to witness up-close.
For more information, you can visit www.heinenbrosag.com and www.agaviation.org.
Author’s Note: I would like to give a spe- cial thanks to Scott Heinen, Glenn Heinen and Jim Uselton, and Colleen Isaacson and Andrew Moore from the National Agricultural Aviation Association.
Sky Addict Aviation
Grant Boyd is a recent MBA graduate of Wichita State Univer- sity. A private pilot, Boyd is cur- rently working toward his instru- ment rating, with the ultimate goal of combining his love of business and aviation with a career at a general aviation manufacturer. You can contact Grant at grant- boyd2015@gmail.com
Short-n-Numbers
August 2020 / TWIN & TURBINE • 15
AG AVIATION FACTS
• In the early days, aerial applicators were known as “crop dusters” because they worked with dry chemicals, mostly insecticides.
• The agricultural aviation in- dustry treats 127 million acres of cropland aerially each year.
• The five most commonly treated crops among aerial application operators are corn, wheat/barley, soy- beans, pastures/rangelands and alfalfa.
• On average, each aerial application business has 2.3 aircraft, ranging in price from $100,000 to nearly $2 million depending on hopper size, engine type and engine size.
• The average hired aerial applicator pilot has 19.4 years of experience in the industry; the average aerial applicator operator has 27.9 years of experience.
• Today’s aircraft utilize sophisticated precision application equipment such as GPS (Global Positioning Systems), GIS (geographical information systems), flow controls, real time meteoro- logical systems and precisely calibrated spray equipment.
Source: National Agricultural Aviation Association