This summer, I have been fortunate enough to get back into ag flying. I started the year with the intentions of being a part-time, fill-in guy. That lasted around a couple of weeks until the work really started coming in and it has been pretty much wide open running since.
Started the year and continue to fly a Ayres Turbo Thrush with a 510 gallon capacity powered by a -34 P&W. This is a great airplane. It is big and has lots of room in the cockpit, flies very solidly, carries a load well, and what I really like about it is that it has a low profile ( sits low to the ground, therefore much more comfortable working around things). It is a little "twitchy" on takeoff and landing but an all around workhorse.
About three weeks ago, I also started flying a 602 Air Tractor. Both the Thrush and Air Tractor were designed by Leland Snow, but they are two totally different airplanes. The 602 is a much bigger plane than the Thrush, starting with a 630-650 gallon capacity. The controls are really light, and it is a joy to fly. It is powered by a -60 P&W and that is all the engine that it really needs. It will get off the runway very well. The only thing that really takes some getting used to is the constant use of flaps. I told someone the other day that you had to use a notch of flap just to taxi the thing. In all seriousness though, you do use flaps on take-off, every turn around and on landing. The ailerons droop when the flaps are extended. A very fine airplane! This is an airplane like the one that I ran in my business and I have around 6,000 hrs in them. I am sold on the airplane.
Only problems I've had (so far) this year, The A/C went out in the Thrush for a couple of days and I cooked for a while. It is really miserable in there without the air. Other little problem, I accidently got in the wrong field and gave a farmer a free fertilizer job one morning.
All in all, So far, it's been a good year. I have flown about 350-400 hrs and I have really enjoyed myself.
Just thought I'd share.
Started the year and continue to fly a Ayres Turbo Thrush with a 510 gallon capacity powered by a -34 P&W. This is a great airplane. It is big and has lots of room in the cockpit, flies very solidly, carries a load well, and what I really like about it is that it has a low profile ( sits low to the ground, therefore much more comfortable working around things). It is a little "twitchy" on takeoff and landing but an all around workhorse.
About three weeks ago, I also started flying a 602 Air Tractor. Both the Thrush and Air Tractor were designed by Leland Snow, but they are two totally different airplanes. The 602 is a much bigger plane than the Thrush, starting with a 630-650 gallon capacity. The controls are really light, and it is a joy to fly. It is powered by a -60 P&W and that is all the engine that it really needs. It will get off the runway very well. The only thing that really takes some getting used to is the constant use of flaps. I told someone the other day that you had to use a notch of flap just to taxi the thing. In all seriousness though, you do use flaps on take-off, every turn around and on landing. The ailerons droop when the flaps are extended. A very fine airplane! This is an airplane like the one that I ran in my business and I have around 6,000 hrs in them. I am sold on the airplane.
Only problems I've had (so far) this year, The A/C went out in the Thrush for a couple of days and I cooked for a while. It is really miserable in there without the air. Other little problem, I accidently got in the wrong field and gave a farmer a free fertilizer job one morning.
All in all, So far, it's been a good year. I have flown about 350-400 hrs and I have really enjoyed myself.
Just thought I'd share.
