Agplanesmed

Amazing Agricultural Aircraft

By Timothy R. Gaffney

Enslow Publishers
Berkeley Heights, New Jersey

Click here to order


"Agricultural pilots — or ag pilots — fly their planes at racecar speeds only a few feet above the ground. Whipping into steep turns at the end of each pass, they perform low-level air shows for the plants they treat. There are no crowds to cheer and wave, but ag pilots do not fly to impress others. They love the thrill of going low and fast despite the dangers of trees, power lines, or other obstacles that can kill in a heartbeat.

"Timothy R. Gaffney explains the world of agricultural aviation and the equipment that makes it possible, such as the Stearman, the Ag-Cat B-600, and the Air Tractor AT-802. Firsthand accounts from ag pilots help readers understand the vital jobs they perform daily, such as spraying chemicals on farm fields to fertilize soil and control harmful insects, and spreading the seeds for important crops like rice and grain." — back cover






Watch a video of ag airplanes set to music and a video of an agricultural helicopter at work.









Resources
Agricultural Science for kids
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Kids Science Page
National Agricultural Library

History
Agricultural aviation history
U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission

The first crop duster
California Farm Bureau Federation

Delta Airlines' crop dusting roots
Delta Heritage Museum

National Agricultural Aviation Museum
Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce

Applications
Remote sensing with ag aircraft
USDA Agricultural Reseach Service

Seeding rice by air
California Farm Bureau Federation

Aircraft
Air Tractor aircraft
Air Tractor Inc.

Ayres Thrush
www.airliners.net

Boeing Stearman
www.airliners.net

Grumman Ag-Cat
www.airliners.net

Huff Daland Duster
National Air and Space Museum

Piper Pawnee
www.airliners.net

Ag planes in air shows
Ag-cat: Gene Soucy’s Showcat
Gene Soucy Airshows

Boeing Stearman: Red Baron Pizza Squadron
Red Baron Pizza