Air Tractor 802A video

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

Fun to watch.
So are crop-dusting planes, in general, more airbatic than designated airbatic planes.., say, a Citabria-type rig?
Are the Citabrias still considered tops?

I would bet an Extra or Edge would run circles around these if you are talking strictly aerobatics.

[daepp]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

This is the same amount of horsepower needed to get a long-hood targa up to 165 mph.

Too funny - that brings back memories. I wonder whatever happened to the executive douche!

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

So are crop-dusting planes, in general, more airbatic than designated airbatic planes.., say, a Citabria-type rig?
Are the Citabrias still considered tops?

No, and no.
Neither ag planes, nor Citabrias, are capable of outside maneuvers (no significant negative G maneuvers). The Decathlon is capable, however is not competitive against pure aerobatic planes like the Edge or the Extra, the Yak or the Sukhoi, etc.
The Citabria is still used by some as an introductory aerobatic trainer, and the Decathlon as a more common aerobatic trainer.

[944Larry]

Originally Posted by MT930

Great Video high tolerance flying for sure. The ultimate stick and rudder flying.

I knew a guy who balled up a few of those and lived a long life.

It's the chemical exposure that bothers me. I know a few more guys that have been very sick and died.

I was never worried about the chemicals. I was never sick from them and never knew anybody else that got sick and never heard of anybody dying from them. You would have to be incredibly careless to poison yourself but I suppose it could happen.

[doublestuff]

South Georgia crop dusting school? Sounds like Ag-Flight in Bainbridge, Ga. Run by Billy Howell.

That's the one!

[944Larry]

does have its risks
Witness: Crop Duster Flew Straight Into Ground - YouTube

[cashflyer]

Hey Larry...
Back in the 2011 thread, you said you dusted with a Jetranger.
I thought this would be an opportune time to announce that I've been working on a rotor add-on and solo'd a Jetranger yesterday for the first time.

Fun.

[Schumi]

I don't know anything about how crop dusting plane airframes are built, but when I see that plane pulling G's like it seemingly shows in the video... I just have feelings of metal fatigue and failure going through my head.

If this guy likes aerobatics, I can't help but think he's in the wrong plane. It can't like doing that.

[BE911SC]

Everything is cooler with the right soundtrack.

[944Larry]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

Hey Larry...
Back in the 2011 thread, you said you dusted with a Jetranger.
I thought this would be an opportune time to announce that I've been working on a rotor add-on and solo'd a Jetranger yesterday for the first time.

Fun.

Cash-you have now embarked on the most fun...........and expensive...........part of your life. I did some row crop and rice work with my earlier piston ships but when I went to the Ranger it was strictly forestry, power-line, ditch-banks and industrial sites with the Microfoil system for drift control. Congratulations on your hard work at mastering a difficult machine at best to fly. The versatility of the things is amazing. I have people ask me for advice when they start to fly helos. I usually tell them the following;

1. Never ever ignore the wind, during take off and landing always keep it on the
nose. Surprising how little tailwind will make you run out of aft cyclic.
2. When in a strange ship for the first time, go up to altitude and roll off the power
and check your auto-rotational RPM's. It was amazing how many ships I
flew that they were too high or too low, some dangerously so.
3. As for autos-practice,practice,practice. Only way to save your life if something
goes wrong.
4. Always keep a place in sight for an emergency landing if possible.
5. Always keep the height-velocity envelope (dead man's curve) in mind.

Seems like a lot of don'ts but remember the Jet Ranger is the safest thing flying.
Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[944Larry]

Originally Posted by Schumi

I don't know anything about how crop dusting plane airframes are built, but when I see that plane pulling G's like it seemingly shows in the video... I just have feelings of metal fatigue and failure going through my head.

If this guy likes aerobatics, I can't help but think he's in the wrong plane. It can't like doing that.

They're built to take everything you can throw at them. Thousands of take-offs and landings a year many from rough fields and pastures, gravel roads, you name it. Heavy loads, hard turns, I even had a lightning strike once. Structural failures are quite rare.

[cashflyer]

I've been lucky to have a very good flight instructor.
Having a fixed wing background also helps, as he and I can concentrate on the helicopter without having to also learn comms, airspace, regulations, etc, all at the same time.
Another benefit is that I have been working on the helos for several years and went into this with a good knowledge of the mechanics of how a helicopter works. (Such as the importance of a properly rigged rotor head to have the correct autorotational speeds.)
Thanks for your congratulations! It seemed an overwhelming hurdle at first.

Originally Posted by 944Larry

Cash-you have now embarked on the most fun...........and expensive...........part of your life. I did some row crop and rice work with my earlier piston ships but when I went to the Ranger it was strictly forestry, power-line, ditch-banks and industrial sites with the Microfoil system for drift control. Congratulations on your hard work at mastering a difficult machine at best to fly. The versatility of the things is amazing. I have people ask me for advice when they start to fly helos. I usually tell them the following;

1. Never ever ignore the wind, during take off and landing always keep it on the
nose. Surprising how little tailwind will make you run out of aft cyclic.
2. When in a strange ship for the first time, go up to altitude and roll off the power
and check your auto-rotational RPM's. It was amazing how many ships I
flew that they were too high or too low, some dangerously so.
3. As for autos-practice,practice,practice. Only way to save your life if something
goes wrong.
4. Always keep a place in sight for an emergency landing if possible.
5. Always keep the height-velocity envelope (dead man's curve) in mind.

Seems like a lot of don'ts but remember the Jet Ranger is the safest thing flying.
Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[944Larry]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

I've been lucky to have a very good flight instructor.
Having a fixed wing background also helps, as he and I can concentrate on the helicopter without having to also learn comms, airspace, regulations, etc, all at the same time.
Another benefit is that I have been working on the helos for several years and went into this with a good knowledge of the mechanics of how a helicopter works. (Such as the importance of a properly rigged rotor head to have the correct autorotational speeds.)
Thanks for your congratulations! It seemed an overwhelming hurdle at first.

I was a fixed wing pilot before getting into choppers. There are more similarities than there are differences really. I bought a helo and had a hired pilot and I did most of the maintenance so, like you, I had a good working knowlege of the machine before I set foot in one. The main thing I've noticed about successfully flying a helo is attention to detail. A pilot who is cavalier about weather briefings, pre-flights, loading etc. will not make it in a helo. Like you, I had a good instructor, who was also a spray pilot. Good combo for me!!!

[xlr8]

Congratulations on the solo, Cash!