| Air Tractor | |
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HW100 - 45000
UAW55 - 105000 RRW100 - 175000 PKRR - 7500 |
Air Tractor Air Tractor, Inc. Industry - Aerospace Founded - 1978 Founder - Leland Snow Headquarters - Olney, Texas, United States Website - airtractor.com Air Tractor Inc. is a United States aircraft manufacturer based in Olney, Texas. Founded in 1978, the company began manufacturing a new agricultural aircraft derived from the S-2B aircraft (designed by founder Leland Snow's previous company, Snow Aeronautical). Designated Model AT-300 Air Tractor, the new aircraft first flew in 1973. History Leland Snow began designing his first airplane, the S-1, in 1951. The 23-year-old Snow completed test flights with the S-1 in 1953. Snow's S-1 flew dusting and spraying jobs in the Texas Rio Grande Valley and in Nicaragua until 1957. He followed up the S-1 with the models S-2A and S-2B, which were built when Snow moved to production facilities in Olney, Texas in 1958. In 1965, Leland Snow sold his company to Rockwell-Standard and was appointed a Vice President of the Aero Commander division. During this time, the Model S-2R was developed and named the Thrush. The first 100 Thrush aircraft were built at the Olney Division before the plant was closed and Thrush production moved to Georgia in 1970. More than 500 aircraft were produced under Snow Aeronautical Corporation and Rockwell-Standard in Olney. Snow resigned from Rockwell and devoted the next two years designing the Air Tractor. Construction on the AT-300, which later became the AT-301, began in 1972. Air Tractor's first turbine model, the AT-302, was introduced in 1977. Sixteen years later (1993), Air Tractor delivered its 1,100th airplane and soon began expanding the Olney plant for increased capacity, and less then five years after that (1998) 2,000th Snow-designed airplane was built there. On July 1, 2008 Air Tractor, Inc. became an employee-owned company with the establishment of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. On February 20, 2011, at age 80, Leland Snow passed away while jogging near his home in Wichita Falls, Texas. On his desk at home were his plans and notes for the next day’s engineering meeting. Snow is remembered as a quiet, generous and kind-natured family man whose focus and determination built one of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturing companies. And yet for all his many accomplishments and busy schedule, Leland Snow would always make time to visit with ag pilots who dropped by to see him at his office or at National Agricultural Aviation Association meetings. His commitment to pilot safety and drift minimization programs helped to improve public image of our industry. His wish was to pass the company to the employees who had devoted their skills and passion to Air Tractor. - Air Tractor Aircraft Model name - First flight - Number built - Type Air Tractor AT-300 - 1973 - - Single engine agricultural monoplane Air Tractor AT-301 - - - Single engine agricultural monoplane Air Tractor AT-302 - - - Single engine agricultural monoplane Air Tractor AT-400 - 1979 - - Single engine agricultural monoplane Air Tractor AT-401 - - - Single engine agricultural monoplane Air Tractor AT-402 - - - Single engine agricultural monoplane Air Tractor AT-501 - 1986 - - Single engine agricultural monoplane Air Tractor AT-502 - - - Single engine agricultural monoplane Air Tractor AT-503 - - - Single engine agricultural monoplane Air Tractor AT-504 - - - Single engine agricultural monoplane Air Tractor AT-602 - 1995 - - Single engine agricultural monoplane Air Tractor AT-802 - 1990 - - Single engine agricultural monoplane Air Tractor AT-1002 - 2009 - - Single engine agricultural monoplane Ayres Corporation Snow Aeronautical Thrush Aircraft Air Tractor-L3Harris AT-802U Sky Warden Air Tractor AT-300 Air Tractor AT-400 Air Tractor AT-500 family Air Tractor AT-602 Air Tractor AT-802 An AT-502B on the ramp at Belle Glade Airport A two-seat AT-802 in Missoula, Montana A firefighting AT-802F Air Boss at Miramichi Airport A counter-insurgency AT-802U at the Paris Air Show Air Tractor AT-300 AT-300 family (AT-301) Role - Agricultural aircraft Manufacturer - Air Tractor First flight - 1973 Introduction - 1976 Status - Active Produced - 1973-present The Air Tractor AT-300 is a family of agricultural aircraft that first flew in the United States on September 1973. Type certification was awarded to Air Tractor in November the same year, and serial production commenced in 1976. Of low-wing monoplane taildragger configuration, they carry a chemical hopper between the engine firewall and the cockpit. Variants AT-300 - prototype and early production models with Pratt & Whitney R-985 engine and 320 US gal (1,200 L) hopper AT-301 - main production model with Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine AT-301B - AT-301 with 350 US gal (1,320 L) hopper AT-302 - turboprop version with Lycoming LTP101 engine AT-302A - AT-302 with 385 US gal (1,460 L) hopper Specifications (AT-301A) (Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89) General characteristics Crew: 1 Capacity: 320 US gal (270 imp gal; 1,200 L) hopper Length: 27 ft 0 in (8.23 m) Wingspan: 45 ft 1+1⁄4 in (13.748 m) Height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) Wing area: 270 sq ft (25 m2) Aspect ratio: 7.5:1 Airfoil: NACA 4415 Empty weight: 3,800 lb (1,724 kg) (spray equipped) Gross weight: 7,400 lb (3,357 kg) Fuel capacity: 126 US gal (105 imp gal; 480 L) Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine, 600 hp (450 kW) Propellers: 2-bladed Hamilton Standard 12D40/6101A-12 constant-speed propeller, 9 ft 1 in (2.77 m) diameter Performance Maximum speed: 168 mph (270 km/h, 146 kn) at sea level Cruise speed: 120-140 mph (190-230 km/h, 100-120 kn) (typical working speed) Stall speed: 56 mph (90 km/h, 49 kn) (normal landing weight) Range: 540 mi (870 km, 470 nmi) Rate of climb: 1,600 ft/min (8.1 m/s) Air Tractor AT-400 Article Talk Read Edit View history Tools From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia AT-400 family An AT-402 in operation, spraying a field in Washington State Role - Agricultural aircraft Manufacturer - Air Tractor First flight - 1979 Introduction - 1980 Status - Active, in production Produced - 1979-present The Air Tractor AT-400 is a family of agricultural aircraft that first flew in the United States on September 1979. Type certification was awarded to Air Tractor in April 1980. Of low-wing monoplane taildragger configuration, they carry a chemical hopper between the engine firewall and the cockpit. Variants AT-400 - AT-301 with 680 shp (507 kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-15AG engine and 400 US gal (1,510 L) hopper. Short-span (45 ft 1¼ in (13.75 m)) wings. 72 built. AT-400A - AT-400 with 550 hp (410 kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 engine. 14 built. AT-401 - AT-301 with longer-span wings and 400 US gal (1,510 L) hopper, powered by 600 hp (447 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine. 168 built. AT-401A - AT-401 with PZL-3S engine. One built. AT-401B -Improved revision of AT-401, with revised wingtips and further increased span (51 ft 1¼ in (15.57 m)). 69 built by December 2001. AT-402 - AT-401 with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-15 engine. 68 built. AT-402A - low cost version of AT-401B, with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 engine. 103 built by December 2001. AT-402B - improved version of AT-402, with revised wingtips and increased span of AT-401B. 31 built by December 2001. Aircraft on display AT-400A N3159D is on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. It is decorated in a livery depicting Dusty Crophopper from the 2013 animated film Planes, having been given the livery at the request of Disneytoon Studios prior to its acquisition by the museum. Specifications (AT-401) Data from Janes's All The World's Aircraft 1993-94 General characteristics Crew: 1 Capacity: 400 US gal (330 imp gal; 1,500 L) hopper Length: 27 ft 0 in (8.23 m) Wingspan: 49 ft 1+1⁄4 in (14.97 m) Height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) Wing area: 294.0 sq ft (27.31 m2) Aspect ratio: 8.20:1 Airfoil: NACA 4415 Empty weight: 4,135 lb (1,876 kg) Max takeoff weight: 7,860 lb (3,565 kg) Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine, 600 hp (450 kW) Performance Maximum speed: 156 mph (251 km/h, 136 kn) at sea level Cruise speed: 120-140 mph (190-230 km/h, 100-120 kn) (typical working speed) Stall speed: 61 mph (98 km/h, 53 kn) at 6,000 lb (2,700 kg) (max. landing weight) (flaps down) Range: 630 mi (1,010 km, 550 nmi) Rate of climb: 1,100 ft/min (5.6 m/s) Related development AT-300 AT-501 AT-602 AT-802 An AT-400 on the runway AT-400A N3159D on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center Air Tractor AT-500 family AT-500 family (Air Tractor AT-502B) Role - Agricultural aircraft Manufacturer - Air Tractor First flight - 25 April 1986 Status - Active, in production Produced - 1986-present The Air Tractor AT-500 is a family of agricultural aircraft that first flew in the United States on 25 April 1986, manufactured by Air Tractor Inc. Of monoplane low-wing, taildragger configuration, they carry a chemical hopper between the engine firewall and the cockpit. Compared with their predecessor, the AT-500 family featured a wingspan increase of 50 ft (15.2 m), and an additional fuselage stretch of 22 in (56 cm), allowing for a larger chemical hopper. Almost all variants offer a widened "buddy" seat or a tandem seat for a passenger, observer, or loader; trainer aircraft with full dual controls have also been offered. From 2011 through 2018, the AT-502B was the world's top-selling agricultural aircraft with 388 deliveries, while the combined AT-500 line (AT-502A, -502B, and -504) was among the world's most popular fixed wing general aviation single-turboprop aircraft families, with 470 delivered - a total exceeded only by the Pilatus PC-12 and the Cessna 208 Caravan family during that time. Variants AT-500 Prototype AT-501 Piston-powered version with 600 shp (450 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine, one seat, gross weight of 6,500 lb (2,900 kg) AT-502 Upgraded AT-501 with 680 shp (510 kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-15AG or 750 shp (560 kW) PT6A-34AG engine, one or two seats, gross weight of 6,500 lb (2,900 kg) or 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) depending on production date and wing spar type AT-502A Hot and high version of AT-502 with 1,100 shp (820 kW) PT6A-65AG or 1,050 shp (780 kW) PT6A-60AG engine, one or two seats in tandem or side-by-side arrangement, gross weight of 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) AT-502B Main production version, development of AT-502 with 750 shp (560 kW) PT6A-34AG engine, one or two seats in tandem or side-by-side arrangement, gross weight of 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) AT-502XP Updated AT-502A with 867 shp (647 kW) PT6A-140AG engine AT-503 Production version with 1,100 shp (820 kW) PT6A-45R engine, tandem seats, gross weight of 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) AT-503A AT-503 with 750 shp (560 kW) PT6A-34AG engine, tandem seats dual controls, AT-501 wings AT-503T Dual-control trainer version of AT-503 with shorter AT-401 wings, tandem seats AT-504 Dual-control trainer version of AT-502B with side-by-side seating, replaced tandem-seat AT-503 trainers, introduced 2009 Specifications (AT-502B) Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89 General characteristics Crew: Two Capacity: *500 US gal (420 imp gal; 1,900 L) hopper 5,830 lb (2,640 kg) payload Length: 33 ft 6 in (10.21 m) Wingspan: 52 ft 0 in (15.85 m) Height: 9 ft 9+1⁄2 in (2.985 m) Wing area: 288.0 sq ft (26.76 m2) Aspect ratio: 8.0:1 Airfoil: NACA 4415 Empty weight: 4,650 lb (2,109 kg) Max takeoff weight: 10,480 lb (4,754 kg) Fuel capacity: 260 US gal (220 imp gal; 980 L) Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG turboprop, 750 shp (560 kW) Propellers: 3-bladed Hartzell constant-speed propeller, 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) diameter Performance Maximum speed: 154 mph (248 km/h, 134 kn) at sea level Cruise speed: 130 mph (210 km/h, 110 kn) (ferry speed) Stall speed: 69 mph (111 km/h, 60 kn) (power off, flaps down) at maximum landing weight Range: 800 mi (1,300 km, 700 nmi) Service ceiling: 36,000 ft (11,000 m) Rate of climb: 3,500 ft/min (18 m/s) Air Tractor AT-602 AT-602 Role - Agricultural aircraft Manufacturer - Air Tractor First flight - 1 December 1995 Introduction - 1996 Status - Active, in production Produced - 1995-present The Air Tractor AT-602 is an agricultural aircraft manufactured by Air Tractor Inc, that first flew in the United States on 1 December 1995. Of monoplane low-wing, taildragger configuration, it carries a chemical hopper between the engine firewall and the cockpit. It was designed to fill a gap in the Air Tractor range, between the AT-500 series with a 500 US gal (1,890 L) capacity and the AT-802 with a 810 US gal (3,070 L) capacity. Operators Australia Dunn Aviation (Western Australia) - 2 x AT-602s Mongolia Thomas Air LLC (Mongolia) - AT-602 Specifications Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003-2004 General characteristics Crew: one pilot Capacity: 630 US gal (520 imp gal; 2,400 L) chemicals Length: 34 ft 2 in (10.41 m) Wingspan: 56 ft 0 in (17.07 m) Height: 11 ft 1 in (3.38 m) Wing area: 336.0 sq ft (31.22 m2) Aspect ratio: 9.3:1 Empty weight: 5,600 lb (2,540 kg) Gross weight: 12,500 lb (5,670 kg) Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney PT6A-60AG turboprop , 1,050 hp (783 kW) Performance Maximum speed: 198 mph (319 km/h, 172 kn) Cruise speed: 150 mph (241 km/h, 130 kn) Stall speed: 87 mph (140 km/h, 76 kn) (flaps down) Never exceed speed: 217 mph (349 km/h, 189 kn) Range: 600 mi (970 km, 520 nmi) at 8,000 ft (2,400 m), econ. cruise speed Rate of climb: 650 ft/min (3.3 m/s) Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era AT-300 AT-400 AT-501 AT-802 AT-602 at Perth Airport (early 2000s) Air Tractor AT-802 AT-802 (Air Tractor AT-802) Role - Agricultural / Fire-fighting aircraft National origin - United States Manufacturer - Air Tractor First flight - 1990 Status - Active Produced - 1990-present Variants - L3Harris OA-1K Sky Warden The Air Tractor AT-802 is an American agricultural aircraft that may also be adapted into fire-fighting or armed versions. It first flew in the United States in October 1990 and is manufactured by Air Tractor. The AT-802 carries a chemical hopper between the engine firewall and the cockpit. In the U.S., it is considered a Type III SEAT, or Single Engine Air Tanker. Development In its standard configuration, the aircraft utilizes conventional landing gear (two main wheels and a tail wheel). However, a number of aircraft have been converted to the Fire Boss aerial firefighting configuration, which utilizes Wipaire 10000 amphibious floats, so that it can land on a traditional runway or on water. The Fire Boss can scoop water from a lake or river for use on a fire. In addition to the 820 US gallons (3,100 L) standard fuselage-mounted retardant tank, the Fire Boss can have optional 35 US gallons (130 L) foam tanks in the floats. Operations with floats installed have been shown to produce a shorter and narrower retardant drop pattern than wheeled AT-802s. Armed version In response to the United States Air Force's LAAR program and the growing requirement for light counter-insurgency aircraft, Air Tractor developed an armed model, the AT-802U, in 2008, with engine and cockpit armor, a bulletproof windscreen, self-sealing fuel tanks, and structural reinforcements for the carriage of 9,000 pounds (4,100 kg) of payload. A reinforced wing spar was certified for 12,000 hours of flight time, and the AT-802U was displayed in 2009 at the Paris Air Show. The AT-802 has also been used in counter-drug operations in the USSOUTHCOM AOR by the U.S. Department of State as a delivery vehicle for herbicides and defoliants over narcotics production facilities. Ten AT-802i were converted by IOMAX USA into an armed configuration with Roketsan Cirit 2.75" rockets and guided bombs for the UAE Air Force. The UAE operated them until November 2015 when they were replaced by the first three of 24 Archangels on order from Iomax. The Archangel is based on a similar cropduster airframe, that of the Thrush Model 660, however to create the Archangel the basic Model 660 undergoes a much more extensive rebuild in the course of its militarization. Six of the UAE AT-802i were transferred to the Jordanian Air Force with a further three being transferred to the Yemeni Government Forces where they have been used in the 2015 Yemeni Civil War. Reports place Emirati aircraft in Libya flown by contract pilots. In January 2017, the US State Department approved a deal for twelve AT-802 aircraft for the Kenya Defence Forces, although as of June 2017 a contract for the proposed sale had not been signed. On 1 August 2022, United States Special Operations Command indicated they would purchase up to 75 AT-802U Sky Warden aircraft to support special operations forces in fighting irregular wars. Air Tractor will manufacture the airframes and L3Harris will then modify them into the Armed Overwatch mission configuration. The planes are intended to perform armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions at low cost in permissive environments from austere locations, and will allow SOCOM to remove the aging U-28A Draco from combat service. The Sky Warden can deploy guided weapons including the APKWS rocket, GBU-12 laser-guided bomb, and Hellfire and Griffin missiles; it has a six-hour loiter time at a 200 nmi (230 mi; 370 km) radius. The initial contract is for $170 million, with a ceiling of $3 billion for purchase of the full fleet. The plan is for five squadrons of 15 planes, one deployed at a time, three undergoing maintenance, and one for training. Initial service entry is expected in 2026, with all delivered and full operating capability reached in 2029. The AT-802U was given the military designation OA-1K. Variants AT-802 - two seat (tandem) cockpit. AT-802A - single-seat cockpit. AT-802U - two seat (tandem) armored military version, modified with sensors and reinforced for weapons carriage. AT-802U Sky Warden - An ISR Strike Aircraft based on AT-802U. The AT-802U was selected in August 2022 as the winner of the United States Special Operations Command Armed Overwatch programme, with an initial buy of 6 airframes. AT-802F or AT-802AF - An aerial firefighting model 802 equipped with the Air Tractor Computerized Firegate designed/developed/serviced by Trotter Controls Inc. AT-802F Fire Boss - AT-802F equipped with Wipaire amphibious floats for operations from land or water. AT-802L Longsword - An ISR and light-attack aircraft based on AT-802U, which developed by L3 Platform Integration collaboration with Air Tractor. L3 rebranded it as OA-8 Longsword for Asia-Pacific region. Operators Civil The aircraft is popular with aerial application operators. - Australia Kennedy Air - 5 AT-802F Fire Boss - Canada Air Spray Buffalo Airways Conair Group Early Bird Air Ltd Military and government - Australia Queensland Fire and Emergency Services South Australian Country Fire Service - Burkina Faso Military of Burkina Faso 1 AT-802 - Canada Government of Northwest Territories - Chile National Forestry Corporation - 3 AT-802F - Colombia National Police of Colombia - 9 AT-802 National System of Disaster and Risk Management - 2 AT-802 - Croatia Croatian Air Force - 5 AT-802A Fire Boss + 1 AT-802F as of November 2014 - Egypt Egyptian Air Force - 12 AT-802U (acquired from the UAE in 2016, first spotted in service in January 2018) - Gambia Military of Gambia - Indonesia Pertamina - Israel Israel Police in Conjuction with Israeli Fire Department - 14 AT-802F, purchased second-hand from Spain (of which 2 formerly were Fire Boss, but exchanged for standard configuration aircraft) 1 crashed due to mechanical malfunction - Jordan Royal Jordanian Air Force - 6 IOMAX AT-802i Block 1 being upgraded to armed Block 2 standard, of which 1 upgraded aircraft delivered as of January 2018 and 4 AT-802s supplied by L-3 Corporation and originally intended for Yemen - Montenegro Police of Montenegro - 1 AT-802 + 3 AT-802A - North Macedonia Protection and Rescue Directorate of North Macedonia - 3 AT-802A Fire Boss - Portugal Ministry of Internal Administration - contracts out several AT-802 Fire Boss for aerial firefighting - Spain Ministry of Environment (CEGISA) - 3 AT-802A Avialsa T35 - 15 AT-802 + 14 AT-802F - Slovenia Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief - 4 (of which 2 on order) AT-802F Fire Boss - Sweden Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency - 4 AT-802 Fire boss - United States Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - contracts out 2 AT-802Fs from Aero Spray of Appleton, Minnesota US State Department Air Wing - 2 AT-802s, used to spray herbicides on narcotics fields United States Forest Service - Multiple AT-802s, used for aerial firefighting United States Special Operations Command - contract for an initial six aircraft with a potential delivery of up to 75 aircraft signed in August 2022 for the Armed Overwatch programme - Yemen Yemeni Air Force Former operators - United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates Air Force - 24 IOMAX AT-802i BPA Specifications (AT-802) Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003-2004 General characteristics Crew: Two Capacity: 820 US gal (683 imp gal; 3,104 L) Length: 35 ft 11 in (10.95 m) Wingspan: 59 ft 3 in (18.06 m) Height: 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m) Wing area: 401.0 sq ft (37.25 m2) Aspect ratio: 8.8:1 Airfoil: NACA 4415 Empty weight: 6,505 lb (2,951 kg) Max takeoff weight: 16,000 lb (7,257 kg) Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67AG turboprop, 1,350 shp (1,010 kW) Performance Cruise speed: 221 mph (356 km/h, 192 kn) at 8,000 ft (2,440 m) Stall speed: 91 mph (146 km/h, 79 kn) (power off, flaps down) Range: 800 mi (1,300 km, 700 nmi) Service ceiling: 13,000 ft (4,000 m) Rate of climb: 850 ft/min (4.3 m/s) Related development L3Harris OA-1K Sky Warden Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Ayres Thrush PZL-106 Kruk PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader AT-802U prototype at Paris Air Show The AT-802L Longsword at Paris Air Show 2017 A Fire Boss on floats dropping its load Montenegrin police AT-802A Fire Boss Israeli AT-802F in a firefighting drill Air Tractor AT-802A of Avialsa during a fire-fighting in Portugal |