As an airline pilot with over 20000 flying hours, believe me when I say that you have the best job right there. I wish that I was young enough to start over.
absolutely loving the Boss eye view... looks just like Oklahoma when i would watch old 401 radials put it down... loving that panel some choice avionics.... thanks for the ride!
A guy can really appreciate the good flying skills. You almost make it look boring but It sure doesn't look boring when your watching from the ground. Great job dude
@@pcohen85 Yeah I’d like to hear an explanation of that readout that seems to be your “too high too low just right” bar and if there’s a screen somewhere showing your field coverage and spray tank levels I’d love to see an on the ground walkthrough.
Dude you make that look too easy! It looks like you can go quite a bit faster than the 402 or the 502 a or b? Also looks to be quite a bit more of a smoother ride? I don't consider myself to be an expert on Ag planes, but I think the xp would have to be my favorite from what I've seen and heard. It seems to have pretty good power as well?. How long have you been an ag pilot?
Yes the flaps are on a rocker switch that I operate with my pointer finger. That is the only way to do it in an AT (my opinion) because that allows you to manipulate the flaps and throttle at the same time if needed.
What's your torque/rpm setting when you start and how do you adjust it during a load. I'm flying an xp myself and trying different things, curious what other guys are doing.
Very nice cockpit. What speed are you operating at? Looks like 150mph. That red numbers under the AH, is that how much gallons is left in tank and the numbers on top when you spray, the gallons per hour that you spray? That XP sounds like a smooth machine and have great handling. Is the AG Cat still your favorite machine or does this one tops it now?
Hey Manie! You guessed it, I'm flying right around 150mph and it's a bit of work to keep it that slow! The red numbers are my volume remaining and the boom pressure in lbs per square inch. The spray volume is displayed on my computer screen. The ag cat still has a special place in my heart and its flight characteristics are superior to any other ag plane (my opinion) but Air Tractors and Thrushes are much more comfortable to fly all day, day after day.
Hey Patrick, sweet video ! Question: Are the flaps automatic or are you raising and lowering them during the turns? I noticed, when I could see the speed, that as soon as you are in the white arc the flaps lowered. Never flown an air tractor, just wondering. All the best...
Look at the liquid sloshing around in the wing tank right by his feet! I don't know much about a air tractor's is that actually the fuel or the liquid being sprayed through the boom?
Hi, I never saw such a nice cockpit panel on a sprayer. I’ve a question though. Why are you rolling right every time you pull up over those trees; is it because the field is a little small to racetrack at the speed you are flying?
Hi Willy, that is a pretty nice airplane and it only had a few hours on it when I shot that video. Most of the new Air Tractors have that panel now. What I'm doing when I pull out of the field is turning away from my next pass because it is too close and the airplane is not capable of making that turn without getting dangerous. It doesn't have anything to do with speed, speed will only effect the height of the turn and will not effect the radius. In a turn like that you are managing energy and in this case I am turning my speed into altitude and vice versa.
Patrick Cohen I didn’t expect such a quick reply. Afraid I never flew a sprayer this nice. My first was a Pawnee and my first job was doping a flap after the engine quit on the pilot. I loaded that year and learned to fly tail wheel in the pilot’s PA-16 Clipper, loved that airplane. He finally let me fly the Pawnee; I was hooked. Sold my Harley to go to ag school where we flew the PT-17 Stearman; now that was a rush. Depending what the demand is, I may get back in the saddle myself this summer. Keep the greasy side down.
Is aerial application done all year round? I know it probably varies by location. In other words, can you have a full time job as an aerial applicator?
Yes in some parts of the country you can fly year round. I work in rice country ( Arkansas) which is a 6-7 month season. In those 6-7 months I will be at work the same ammount of time (or more) than a year round 8-5. In this business a hard 6 month season is most definitely a full time job.
Patrick Cohen hi, I’m trying to get back into flying,especially ag. I’m not to proud to spend the summer of 2020 working ground, especially if I can break into flying Ag-Cats on rice in Arkansas. I’ve a question. How is the season for summer 2020 looking? Is there a line of guys waiting for every seat or is there a shortage of spray pilots. Any information would be appreciated, thanks.
How can I become an Ag pilot? I'm a student pilot currently, and this job is absolutely amazing looking! Could I have some good info on what I need to do to become an Ag pilot, such as, requirements, schools, etc?
The main thing you need to do is go work at an agricultural flying service as part of the ground crew. That will teach you the majority of what you need to know about chemical application. The only flight requirements are a commercial ticket and enough tailwheel time to get accepted by insurance.
Patrick Cohen That makes sense. I definitely pass the tailwheel requirement. I’m 17 and have around 60 hours in a Cessna 150 taildragger! I love AG airplanes. Anyway, thanks so much!
Tell me this is your Air Tractor, Achi. I expect to see many more videos of this thing. I've always found this ugly bug of an airplane very fascinating.
As an airline pilot with over 20000 flying hours, believe me when I say that you have the best job right there. I wish that I was young enough to start over.
