Air Tractor | FerrariChat

Air Tractor

Discussion in 'Aviation Chat' started by alum04org, Jul 10, 2020.

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  1. alum04org

    alum04org F1 Rookie
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    Apr 23, 2009
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    Plymouth, MI
    We were heading “Up North” in Michigan on I-75. Just before Gaylord’s (MI) main exit (M-32), one can look west to see what is at the Gaylord Regional Airport (KGLR). My eyes popped as I had never actually seen an Air Tractor! What I saw was two of them, on FLOATS. Of course I had to wheel in for a local look. :cool::):)

    The scoop, as I met one of the pilots who invited me to walk out and view them further. (I’m not an aviator, know little about it, and love planes anyway.)

    One is a two seater (can train FNG’s), other a one-seater. Pratt & Whitney PT6 turbine produces 1600 shaft H P. Eats 100 gallons per hour while working. Can scoop up 800 gallons of water in a ten second lake “dip.” Holds ~ 385 gal. of Jet A, with 370 useable. Can stay up working for 3 + hours. Can also disperse fire retardant. Contracted to U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a contractor with fire-fighting aircraft staged across the USA incl. Alaska. Were holding here temporarily because the northern lower peninsula was/is extremely dry. Lots of U S Forest land nearby. (Personal conjecture - worthy of mention Camp Grayling, where Nat’l Guard from several states train regularly using live munitions, and have aircraft gunnery and bomb ranges.)

    Swinging back by southbound today at 1 pm they were not present. We have not heard of any fires in the Lower.

    These beasts must be torque monsters.

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  2. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Jim Pernikoff
    I've never seen an aircraft of this type with two seats.....
     
  3. alum04org

    alum04org F1 Rookie
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    Apr 23, 2009
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    Plymouth, MI


    Jim - I did sort of ask about that, but more in the line of "gee it would be ridiculous fun to ride-along with you but I bet they don't permit that stuff anymore." He responded yea, most have only one seat so this one allows us to train FNG's..... (think he said "newer pilots"). :)
     
  4. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
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  5. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    I wonder if they've ever built two-seat crop-duster trainers. That would be an E-ticket ride!
     
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  6. kylec

    kylec F1 Rookie
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    Jun 9, 2005
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  7. Bob Parks

    Bob Parks F1 Veteran
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    Nov 29, 2003
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    Been there done that. Went up with one of my instructors that initiated a sign towing operation in my favorite Stearman and the first time I experienced a ground pick up was scary as hell. A somewhat shallow dive at the stakes that spread the tow line and a last minute pull up with the tow bar hook down to snatch the sign tow was a real thrill. This wasn't a 450 Stearman either, it 220HP Lycoming. Fun ride. Flew with the crop dusters many times when I was a kid.
     
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  8. tomkatf

    tomkatf F1 Rookie
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  9. Bob Parks

    Bob Parks F1 Veteran
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  10. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Terry H Phillips
    Hate to fly that where someone had SAMs. Or fighters.
     
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  11. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Air Tractor tragedy:

     

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