Hello Pat, I grew up around crop dusters. My step dad had six stearmens five dusters and one two seater. WE use to go up every Sunday. I was six years old at that time. The summer after my sixth grade year I hand propped my first 450 Pratt radial. It was great but I was a little scared for the first time. Took me two pulls and it started. What a rush . I also use to mix chemicals . DDT and METHANOL PERATHINE , MILAN, ENDRINE. ALL THE GOOD STUFF. HE WAS TEACHING ME TO FLY AND MY FRESHMAN YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL I TOOK OFF AND LANDED THE STERNAN. I WAS STARTING INSTRUCTION WHEN HE PASSED IN DEC. OF 1973. I never got to get my pilots license after that. So when I see y'all fly I tear up big time . In 1970 he and a farmer got a Grumman Ag Cat with a 650 Pratt. It had 4 Macrnear spray units on the boom, 2 on each side and sprayed pure chemical. No mixing but strong stuff. Anyway didn't mean to write a book. Stay safe and never be what you call Flying by the seat of your pants, lol Remember my Dad saying that.
I wish people like this, who actually do something good for our culture and society, could be the REAL social media influencers, have millions of views and subscribers.
@@lqdtrance You want your special crap right, how do you think you get it. Might not be great but if you want to live in a concrete jungle then this is how.
You are really living the dream. I'm 63 yrs old now. Rode my bike to the airport & got my PPL in 1978. Most hrs tailwheel Champ. I wanted to cropdust but didn't have the $ to get there. Had to weld instead. I worked one season in Idaho for a cropduster 3 Aires Thrush 600 hp Radial birds. I loaded them at 5am 70 degrees with the Sun coming up around 6am to blue sky. The Pilots came in grabbed coffee and started the planes. Such a beautiful sound. I miss those days big time.
This guy is totally bad ass. I like it that he is aware of everything to do with his airplane and the landscape around where he is working. Totally right on about being heavy and having to be careful about stalling!!
Agreed, however when you become an experienced aviator it becomes a little more like you driving to work. You know what to expect, how the aircraft will respond etc. you’re aware of everything in and out of the bird that has the potential to effect you. Great situational awareness is a pillar requirement to be an aviator. Especially when you’re down in the weeds working.
Great video Patrick. If someone lives in Tennessee or Kentucky and their main source of transportation is a lawnmower, you can almost guarantee they’ll be shirtless!😂
Airline pilot knew fugh all about the physics of accelersted stall. Im retired with 21000hrs and have total respect for you. Epic commentary and educated
After speaking with several airline pilots I have come to the conclusion that the gentleman I was arguing with was probably not really an airline captain.
I'm a truck driver and I see you guys doing your thing all the time. It is the most nuts thing to watch when you guys are so low buzzing the field right over a major interstate. Mad respect to you guys.
I drive also and I love watching it and all the years some pilot finally missed his marked and completely covered my truck in spray. Had to slam on brakes bc I couldn’t see. Don’t know what it was but I felt sick for about a week after. Didn’t know I could report that until it was to late to prove. He was 15-20 ft off the ground
Wow i just watched a video after seeing yours on "TURN SMART - RESPECT THE SAFETY MARGIN". A video from Air Tractor. Speaking about stalls etc. Wow I learned something today. I am not an aviator, I am a Paramedic Firefighter. I fly in both helicopters and jets for med flights. I never realized in a turn what complexity exists in that turn. The area of the last video regarding "Normalization of Deviance" related to taking safety shortcuts by Colonel Mullane" was something I can take back to my firefighter colleagues relating to our profession. Happy aviating and blessings to you
I’ve been around most aspects of aviation for decades now, GA, airline, some military, gliders, balloons, gyros, but other than sharing the pattern with, or seeing you from the Highway , never been around ag flying… This is easily the best video I’ve seen in a long time. Great narration, and info to see how it works! Thanks for sharing this with us!
I am a flight mechanic on S2RT34 and S2RT660 turbo-thrush aircraft in Morocco for 32 years of experience, this aircraft is robust in low altitude flight, the flight control responses are fast, I really like this aircraft and thank you to the manufacturer, my greetings to Mr jody bays
One of the many unsung heroes of the agricultural community. As someone who really likes to have food available, thank you for the time and effort you put into this profession. What a cool and fascinating job. Stay safe and have fun. God bless.
@@michaelwalters7110I took that as he was saying that this isn't Reddit bullshit, this is the real thing. On reddit you can say you dropped nukes on Chicago, you can say you're an alien from alpha centauri, same difference. 10 ft off the ground with 40 ft trees at the end... Jesus Christ, this guy's a good pilot.
From a 14000+ hour former Alaskan bush pilot I have to say I’m very impressed. Love the videos please keep posting with commentary. I find the details fascinating. Always wanted to fly ag but family keeps me close to home. Keep it dirty side down.
@yeahman.9262 Alaskan Native here, flying in the bush of AK, village to village, across vast expanses of lethal bearritory, with unpredictable weather and sub zero temperatures over half the year. Not just ANYONE can become, An Alaskan Bush Pilot. My dad had a pa-20, tail dragger, I grew up in the back of a small plane like you would take rides in the carseat. Village life in Bush Alaska... it really is, The Last Frontier
I just came across your channel randomly and I am blown away, this is amazing! Thank you for being such a good commentator while you fly a pretty dynamic route. "...I do not push over the tree and pull any negative G's, that's a no-no from me. Mainly because I have an open cup of coffee in here and I don;t want to spill it." True 10k hour pilot wisdom.
Thanks a bunch for the entertainment you’ve given me from this old Air Guard Deuce, Airline B-727, DC-10 pilot. I enjoy and agree with your flying wisdom. Best to you. Romain
Your particular skill set isn't in high demand at United Airlines. Love the stall explanation as well as other calculations you're explaining at ten feet off the crop! You flying is precise and skill like that takes lots of hours to build. Thanks for sharing!
@@lanceludwig5349 Doubtful. Most airline pilots started with the airline having never sat at the controls. They have a complete pilot training pipeline. It's either that or former military pilots, but a military pilot would certainly know about accelerated stall.
@@JaredJanhsen all I know is recently I really discovered that j would love to do something like this or something related to flying. Idk just where to go after doing 40 hrs
@@JaredJanhsen you joking? I worked my way up instructing, flying 135, regional, then major. it's easier these days but you still have to "sit at the controls" many hours to make it to an airline
@@JaredJanhsenWhoa whoa whoa, you mean I've been flying pipelines in 110+ degree weather at 500' all this time for nothing??? Where is this delightful straight to the airlines pipeline you speak of! lol
Thank you Captain for the ride along and your relaxed causal speaking voice all while flying close enough to see the grasshoppers expression . Blue side up blessings
My father had over 20,000 hours c130h and over 500 ch46 rescue chopper. I really enjoyed your flight! I'm a heavy equipment operator. A job well done is most appreciated by the operator! I'm a ex logger thanks for the heads up! I have laughed so much , thank you from the bottom of my heart. Keep the coffee in the cup! Legend❤🏆👏👍✌🖖
Stay safe. I lost a friend who got me into aviation who had 4,000 hours when he clipped a tree spraying a potato field and augered in and bought the farm. I can't imagine how a life or death situation depends on a fraction of a second decision of when to pull up. I heard Sam Walton (founder of Walmart) lost his son that way. Also glad to see you concerned about drift onto people. Around about 1984 an ag sprayer sprayed me and my gaggle of younger brother and sisters with parathion when I was babysitting them at our midwestern small acreage. The pilot was a known alcoholic and not only was spraying my siblings and I who were running for our lives, but also was spraying the completely wrong field as it turned out. I only found this out because I called every farmer that was adjacent to our property to yell at them and none of them had even hired a sprayer, so they claimed. No action was taken against the pilot because it was based on the word of a minor. The entire acreage was in the dense fog cloud of the spray, and I yelled at my siblings to get inside and nearly had a panic attack because the youngest thought it was funny as hell and kept running around in it just being an ornery little sister, while in the meantime the idiot pilot kept making more passes. She was the only one who had to go to the doctor. Now I know what it's like to be a bug in a bug bombed room.
Love these videos Patrick, my dad was a crop duster and aerial fire fighter in the 70's and 80's,when he first started they where flying super cubs,so I really enjoy your videos,especially with the narration,because I love the information about the things yiur doing, hope you do more
My God, the super cub was a crop duster? When I was a kid, the cropduster‘s had radial Engines. Lots of powerlines around the farm land we lived on. Totally hazardous!!
What a great narrative. This is the best “dual” I’ve heard since my first Army helicopter instructor, Capt Jon Stevenson, in 1967. Great to hear a true pro these days.
We had a neighbor (may he rip) flew crop dusters for a living. Started off with the old bi-plane, air tractor with the old radial engine, then one with a turbo prop. Watching him spray was spectacular. He would pull out of the field dang near straight up, almost looks like he stalls it. Comes back down and sprays. He said it kept him from having to go so far out. It was amazing. Cool video man!
I grew up watching crop dusters flying under the power lines near my house. I love the sound of those air tractors. This was fascinating to watch and hear all the things you are concerned about as you do your job. Very impressive.
I was a military aviator for 16 years and now have a civy flying job, but this man has it all figured out! This job or being a bush pilot (in Alaska or wherever) is just flying at its purest! Its you vs the plane and the elements. Great job, love your videos!
I’ve had family that farmed beans in the delta of Arkansas. Near Lake Village. Watched arial applicators spray beans n cotton. Much admiration to y’all
Nice work. Thanks for letting us ride along. I enjoyed watching the planes spray growing up in E MT. They would sometimes use our grass strip to refill their fungicide, to not have to fly back to their base (SDY)
G'day Patrick, great videos. Mate I totally agree with you not crashing ;-) I was a cop in a rural area and I've been on scene guard and had to search and check in a local ag pilot who crashed and burned, it's not high on my list of favourite memories.
I love aircraft and have always had a passion for flying. I am so happy this popped up in my thumbnails. I live in South Dakota and I am memorized watching crop dusters, and now your video. I have learned from this video because I am that guy that will stop my car or semi when it is safe to do so to film and enjoy. I think common sense is in short supply these days. I always pay attention to the pattern of the air craft and do no place myself where they need to pass right over me for their next pass. I respect what you do and do not want to interfere with anyone's lively hood. I will now consider wind direction even if plane is moving away from me, thank you for that. I have zoom on my camera and do not need to be that close. While I maintain my health certificate for commercial driving, my understanding is that medication I take will prevent me from obtaining an FAA health card. I am 53 and though I can not realize my dream, flying will always be my true passion. Thank you for your video and you have a new subscriber. PS any chance you have access to a two seat that you are experienced with and able to take passenger? For someone that does not have my passion for flying they may not understand. Flying is not just mechanical or adrenaline rush, it is much more and the feeling I get is Spiritual. Even more spiritual would be finding out It is possible to get medical waivers that would allow me to fly, and crop dusting I could do what I love, while able to afford my passion as a living and not a hobby.
@@sanfranciscobay yes I understand that through my research since 2009. I would love to fly with pilot simulating crop dusting which does not violate private pilot insurance, and would sign iron clad contract negating any repercussions legal or otherwise against pilot. Since 2009 I have found 3 pilots that I did not fulfill this dream. I have a dream not a death wish to fly with just anyone.
Had a great flight instructor, Roger at the University of Minnesota. Kept me humble when necessary. Said some things that couldn’t be repeated in polite company. He made sure I knew I could stall at any airspeed. Also told me to “fly the plane first”, in other words, stay ahead of it and keep it right side up. Don’t worry so much about talking on the radio or fiddling with the instruments.
I"m an ex Naval Aviator who flew fighters in combat over North Vietnam. Later I had a 33 year career with a major U.S. airline. Some airline guys are really sharp, of course. But you would be shocked how little some experienced airline pilots know about aerodynamics. The good news is that stick and rudder skills are almost never required in airline flying unless you first make a major error in judgement or flight management.
People ask me how much of my skill set would transfer over to airline flying and I always tell them that none of it will. Unless the engines quit or something catastrophic but controllable happens.
Not true at all. Airline flying is all about planning management, not flying skills. And judging from your video you're quite good at planning and management. The flying skill requirement is minimal; however, the one time you can exhibit your stick and rudder skills in on a landing. Executing a silky smooth touch down, on the numbers, on speed, from a stabilized approach, while de-crabbing and transitioning to a slip at just the right instant, while adjusting the throttle in just the correct way, and controlling the pitch attitude precisely is a challenge that Naval Aviators face on every carrier landing (except the crosswind part). And I imagine your challenges are similar in the world of Ag flying. The part you might not be able to stand and the part I didn't like at all is the rigid seniority system where you can't advance unless someone retires ahead of you no matter how good you are. And the low level of excitement. Of course, passengers don't like excitement and neither do the company bosses. You'll be more happy doing Ag flying, but don't think for a second that your skills wouldn't be more than sufficient. Truth be told, many airline pilots aren't very good flyers, but they comply with company procedure and 99.99999% of the time that's good enough because the system is so rigid, so safe, and so regulated that things almost never go wrong. A crisis is usually getting coffee with cream and sugar when you ordered cream only. Airline flying might not match your approach to life very well though. Thanks for the nice video. @@pcohen85
I used to stay with my grandmother across the street from a bean field. I loved watching the plane spraying and then smelled the pesticide! Probably caused some health problems in my life!
I see a few guys like you in my travels as a trucker. I have mad respect for you because you guys fly incredibly well. I have actually sat at a truck stop in Missouri and got to watch and video a crop duster do his thing. Was like having my own air show. I have also seen the aftermath of something gone wrong. Thankfully both walked away. One was just recent, like a week or two ago, in Jamestown, ND. Saw the plane in a field. Then saw the same plane on a scrap trailer and talked to the guys. Said the pilot didn't add enough power on takeoff and stalled the plane and set it down in the field of cows. I have pictures of it laying in the field and on the trailer. Stay safe out there and keep the blue side up.
Thank you sir for another excellant video !!! Love it when you take us along and talk to us !! 650+ private ticket holder here, and always amazed at the skill level you pilots exhibit. Be safe brother !!
Grew up part of my childhood in East Arkansas (St. Francis & Cross Co. ) and watching these guys fly these planes was a daily routine. Air Tractors and Ag Cat bipes. Absolutely amazed at their skill. Great video!
I am ga Pilot and own a Cessna 150K, have my A&P too. I am very, very impressed with your knowledge and Pilot skills. I see all these folks on Instagram doing crazy things just for a video. You manage an ever changing flight envelope. Wow this is the best video I have seen . Thanks and be safe!
Love your job. 2200 hours since 2018.is amazing. I hope you always keep safety your primary goal. No crash is the goal. Thanks for sharing this with us mortals. I love the modern technology that we can see operating taking all the notes and helping guide you in your day.
That turbine up front is a beast. Aerial spraying has saved my dad a lot of stress and worry when his window to get chemical on his crops was limited. When you're farming alone, you can't be in two places at once. My dad always hired the local aerial sprayer rather than hiring someone with a RoGator.
Object fixation is definitely real!! Your talking about not looking at the trees but looking at where you are going. I’m a paraglider pilot and this is something I see all the time in paragliding, at one of our local sites the LZ is absolutely huge! But there is one lone tree right in the middle, and even with a stall speed of maybe 14-16 mph, and having 3 football fields of area to land, people still get in that one single tree, because they stare at it because they don’t want to hit it, but because they look at it that’s exactly where they go lol.
Same thing happened to a guy I know. He was getting his PG licence. The landing field was HUUUGE, but it had one tractor there.. he landed right on it. lol.
As a young boy I was in love with cropdusting. In high school my best friends father flew and I got my first job as a ground crewman and flagger. My path to becoming a pilot was cut short with a head injury from football. My best friend made good on his promise to become an aerial applicator. Sadly, he clipped a cell tower guide wire a few years back and was killed. Long story short, aerial applicators are (no pun intended) a dying breed and there is a shortage of these pilots in 2024. That said the world's food supply would be 1/2 of what it is without ag pilots. And you my friend, are one of the great pilots that has experience and knowledge. May the Lord bless you and keep you safe!!! PS- "She thinks my (Air) tractors sexy!!!
I used to fly, as a Private Pilot… but OMG, watching you do this 😱😂 I can’t even begin to imagine flying this low, without a nice clear runway ahead of me! 😂 Incredible! 👍😎
Umm...yeah. Totally mesmerizing listening to you talk while you dance the Tango with the smoothness of of Mary Berry mixing her deluxe Lemon Tray Cake. The drama of what we see out of the cockpit is totally incongruous of your voice and speech pattern. Well done good Sir!! Well done!! May I have your baby? LOL, keep up the good work.
good stuff. man. thanks for sharing. I lost my best friend in a 188b on 4/2/97 in Waynesboro, Georgia dusting. He had just graduated from that ag school in Bainbridge Georgia. I heard they asked him to stay on and be an IP. He declined. He wanted to get in the field. The NTSB report stated he overstressed the plane and lost the right wing. While that is possible, I highly doubt it. He and I had too many hours together for me to buy that. It's possible but we will never know for sure. RIP David. He loved what he did for a living. Stay safe & Cheers from Louisiana.
I wonder if the wing failed not because of what he was doing to it, but just all the stress on the airframe from over the years and finally it separated?
I wish I knew. I know things get broken in the plane crash. Over-stressed connections I suspect would be all over the airframe. The airplane being completely consumed in the post-crash fire makes determination more difficult I imagine. Again, it is possible but David was such a by-the-book pilot. He freaked out when I decided to do a little skud running down a local river in the 172. I looked over at him. He was not enjoying the flight at all. He was the last person I would think would break the airplane in flight. @@MasterClassComments
"Trees are big and hard and hurt airplanes when you hit them" 😂 They probably aren't really easy on the pilots, either. You crop dusters are crazy smart. Tip of my hat to you!
Thank you Sir for this explanation, I grew up in Guyana South America , seeing crop dusters spraying sugar cane, saw them again in Arkansas, listen to you is like I am in the plane too. Thanks
@@aubreymiller2476 I stayed in Georgetown for two weeks about 25 years ago. I still have a Guyana flag and a stuffed baby alligator I bought in the market there. I ate a lot of goat cheese also, haha!
Cool video We’ve seen guys like yourself spraying the crops in Michigan and my farms crops. I personally love seeing the awesome ability to fly the hell out of a plane. Stay safe thanks for sharing your experience with us.
This guy is a trip. I don't even fly and I love watching these vids. I was a jet mechanic in the AF and this guy reminds me of the cool fighter pilots I have met.
I'm surprised your bird doesn't have leading edge slats that deploy under certain airspeeds.. Fantastic video and am definitely encouraged by this. Appreciate yeah for taking the time and opportunity to get insight on another job for aviators. Clearest of skies.
Great video! It never occurred to me that "you're going to go where you're looking" applies to ag piloting. I first learned about it when I was doing motorcycle track days (ZX6R), and it's absolutely true. Once I started looking where I wanted the bike to go, I was much more fluid and lap times dropped as well. Thanks for taking the time to record and publish this one. I really enjoyed it.
Thanks for thorough explanation and cost breakdown! I had no idea how much spraying costs! I've seen guys sporadically dropping smoke and never even thought of it as a diagnostic tool for dispersal quality. Makes a lot of sense now! Fly Safe Dude!
When I lived in North East Arkansas, I had the privilege of watching pilots like you work. It is amazing to see on the ground and it is even more amazing to see it from your first person perspective. Thanks for helping folks grow food to feed us all.
Thank you Patrick. Once again an excellent video. I picked a few things. Thank you. The narration is perfect. It's nice to see the airmanship and technical side of spraying as well. Will be waiting eagerly for your next video.
I’ll make one for you specifically sometime in the near future. I didn’t end up going up north so the next time I have to fly it anywhere other than when I am working I will get some better footage for you.
Man, I sure admire your skill but think you are a bit crazy. Spilled a cup of coffee a few years ago while flying the Scout and went searching for a better solution. Found a cup that is completely spill-proof and I customize it w a leather strap. Bought a bunch for gifts and would be happy to send one down. Thanks for the amazing footage and commentary.
Great informative video, I hope new guys getting into this industry realize how valuable the info is that you’re giving. I was old school and had to learn practically everything you’ve said here today. You are a true professional and an inspiration. Nothing like the feeling of being one with the machine, that’s what I see here. Be safe, have fun, make money!!😎😎😎
@@michaela6147It's a double-edged sword. If you didn't spray the fields the yield would go down and our food would be much more expensive. Commercial agriculture is what keeps a lot of the world from starving. Not a big deal for those of us who can afford organic food, but for a lot of people the choice is eating a little pesticide or starving. The world having a much lower population and eating all organic would be great; so would having peace and no war. But that isn't the world we live in, so spraying is necessary. But our crappy civilization aside, it's wonderful watching this guy dance through the sky. I'm happy to grab beauty where I can.
A couple of the farms here in north Louisiana use float planes to spray . They have dug runways across the field closest to the shop and lined them with plastic back then. They would fill them with water during spray season and land and take off using them. I think they did it because it was cheaper than paving a runway. Just an interesting fact .
Great video enjoyed the plane ride 😀. I have often wondered about all the things that go into those air tractors Patrick you did a excellent job of explaining what you were doing
Enjoyed the video! I have lots of fields close to trees that I sometimes do get sprayed by air; I consider that a last resort due to the extra danger for the pilot to deal with. Nice getting a perspective from the cockpit in those close-quarters rounds. Those trees are going by real fast. Enjoyed the commentary. Fly safe!
Really cool video! I’ve seen many crop dusters from the air, but it was really interesting to see a glimpse of what’s going on in the cockpit. It’s hard to believe an airline guy wouldn’t understand the aerodynamics of a stall, but I guess there are slackers in every category!
Those close flybys over the trees gave me the heebie-jeebies. I agree. Airline hours should not count as full hours and stalls can happen at any speed once the plane exceeds its critical AOA. This is one of the reasons why fighter pilots are first picks for airliners since they are trained to play within the AOA during BFMs. A fighter can stall at 300kt if not handled right.
It's beautiful watching you dance through the skies. Really interesting to see the job up close from cockpit. I used to repair radars and saw a whole bunch of avionic kit. Was really impressed by how much you use nowadays and your explanation for how it works and what you used it for. Great setup. Keep flying and I'll keep watching.
We lived around farms when I was a kid and I remember seeing crops getting sprayed. A neighbor said these planes were basically hotrods compared to normal private planes because they were all motor. We had tall distribution lines about 100-150 feet tall. The airplanes would exit the field almost straight up to miss the lines. Very amazing for a kid of about 6 to watch. A friend and I got chased out of a field of carrots once. We were digging up carrots when we got buzzed. Scared the crap out of us. Fun times for a kid in the farmlands
Just about anyone can drive a motor vehicle, but aircraft of any type demand a superior mindset and skill. You're an excellent pilot and this video is very informative and interesting.🙏🙏🙏
I'm only a humble 60hr LSA pilot (and a farmer)...but I just shook my head several times when you said a high time airline pilot did not actually know that a stall is all about angle-of-attack and not airspeed. Unbelievable!!!
Hey cool channel, glad this vid popped up for me. Here's some info I found to help other curious viewers. If you've watched Steveo1kinevo channel, he flies a Socata TBM850 which uses the same engine as this AT 802a. The Pratt and Whitney PT6 turboprop which is one of, if not THE highest-hours-driven vehicle engine model on the planet. I say vehicle and not aircraft because the PT6 is used in many different things from planes and hovercrafts to helicopters and tanks. The PT6 model covers the power range from 600 to 1950 shaft horsepower depending on the model variation, which depends on the application. I remember Steveo saying in one of his vids that the PT6 turboprop is so torque-heavy that it has a very noticeable pull (I think towards starboard) during takeoff on the runway. At first I thought this pilot was like crop dusting in a little 4cyl Cessna like you see in movies. No. This Air Tractor aircraft and its few variants are used for firefighting, military, and government agriculture use in like 60+ countries. The utility value of these aircraft is priceless. The gross weight mentioned in this video, around 16,000 pounds, is very heavy, about as heavy as an F250 truck pulling another F250 on a trailer. The shaft torque is what you'd get from 3 diesel engines on the new F250 from the 6.7 liter power strokes, at half the engine weight of ONE diesel engine. It's about 10 times the power of a typical Cessna 172 plane. So it's quite an engineering marvel, that whole airplane really. And I'm sure very expensive. 😂
Hello Pat, I grew up around crop dusters. My step dad had six stearmens five dusters and one two seater. WE use to go up every Sunday. I was six years old at that time. The summer after my sixth grade year I hand propped my first 450 Pratt radial. It was great but I was a little scared for the first time. Took me two pulls and it started. What a rush . I also use to mix chemicals . DDT and METHANOL PERATHINE , MILAN, ENDRINE. ALL THE GOOD STUFF. HE WAS TEACHING ME TO FLY AND MY FRESHMAN YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL I TOOK OFF AND LANDED THE STERNAN. I WAS STARTING INSTRUCTION WHEN HE PASSED IN DEC. OF 1973. I never got to get my pilots license after that. So when I see y'all fly I tear up big time . In 1970 he and a farmer got a Grumman Ag Cat with a 650 Pratt. It had 4 Macrnear spray units on the boom, 2 on each side and sprayed pure chemical. No mixing but strong stuff. Anyway didn't mean to write a book. Stay safe and never be what you call Flying by the seat of your pants, lol Remember my Dad saying that.
I wish people like this, who actually do something good for our culture and society, could be the REAL social media influencers, have millions of views and subscribers.
Spraying pesticides is good for culture and society??
@@lqdtrance Obviously did not listen. Its a fungicide which on beans is quite often a mineral of some type.
@@lqdtrance🤦♂️
@@lqdtrance You want your special crap right, how do you think you get it. Might not be great but if you want to live in a concrete jungle then this is how.
People like this, American farmers, blue collar working people, DON'T CARE ABOUT LIKES! 😂
You are really living the dream. I'm 63 yrs old now. Rode my bike to the airport & got my PPL in 1978. Most hrs tailwheel Champ. I wanted to cropdust but didn't have the $ to get there. Had to weld instead. I worked one season in Idaho for a cropduster 3 Aires Thrush 600 hp Radial birds. I loaded them at 5am 70 degrees with the Sun coming up around 6am to blue sky. The Pilots came in grabbed coffee and started the planes. Such a beautiful sound. I miss those days big time.
Wow dude you are an amazing multitasker and a great pilot to be able to explain what your doing while flying 10ft over ground. Impressive
Bingo that !
Right!? This is extremely impressive!
If im going over 40mph in my car I need to keep my mouth shut 🚗💥💥👀💨
This guy is totally bad ass. I like it that he is aware of everything to do with his airplane and the landscape around where he is working. Totally right on about being heavy and having to be careful about stalling!!
Agreed, however when you become an experienced aviator it becomes a little more like you driving to work. You know what to expect, how the aircraft will respond etc. you’re aware of everything in and out of the bird that has the potential to effect you. Great situational awareness is a pillar requirement to be an aviator. Especially when you’re down in the weeds working.
Great video Patrick. If someone lives in Tennessee or Kentucky and their main source of transportation is a lawnmower, you can almost guarantee they’ll be shirtless!😂
Airline pilot knew fugh all about the physics of accelersted stall. Im retired with 21000hrs and have total respect for you. Epic commentary and educated
After speaking with several airline pilots I have come to the conclusion that the gentleman I was arguing with was probably not really an airline captain.
I'm a truck driver and I see you guys doing your thing all the time. It is the most nuts thing to watch when you guys are so low buzzing the field right over a major interstate. Mad respect to you guys.
I drive also and I love watching it and all the years some pilot finally missed his marked and completely covered my truck in spray. Had to slam on brakes bc I couldn’t see. Don’t know what it was but I felt sick for about a week after. Didn’t know I could report that until it was to late to prove. He was 15-20 ft off the ground
Wow i just watched a video after seeing yours on
"TURN SMART - RESPECT THE SAFETY MARGIN". A video from Air Tractor. Speaking about stalls etc. Wow I learned something today. I am not an aviator, I am a Paramedic Firefighter. I fly in both helicopters and jets for med flights. I never realized in a turn what complexity exists in that turn. The area of the last video regarding "Normalization of Deviance" related to taking safety shortcuts by Colonel Mullane" was something I can take back to my firefighter colleagues relating to our profession.
Happy aviating and blessings to you
I’ve been around most aspects of aviation for decades now, GA, airline, some military, gliders, balloons, gyros, but other than sharing the pattern with, or seeing you from the Highway , never been around ag flying…
This is easily the best video I’ve seen in a long time. Great narration, and info to see how it works! Thanks for sharing this with us!
i hung around the duster strip when they had 188s and a round engine, cool stuff
I am a flight mechanic on S2RT34 and S2RT660 turbo-thrush aircraft in Morocco for 32 years of experience, this aircraft is robust in low altitude flight, the flight control responses are fast, I really like this aircraft and thank you to the manufacturer, my greetings to Mr jody bays
One of the many unsung heroes of the agricultural community. As someone who really likes to have food available, thank you for the time and effort you put into this profession. What a cool and fascinating job. Stay safe and have fun. God bless.
bro this isnt reddit
@@PerforatedPaperboy and?
you bum @@PerforatedPaperboy
@@michaelwalters7110I took that as he was saying that this isn't Reddit bullshit, this is the real thing. On reddit you can say you dropped nukes on Chicago, you can say you're an alien from alpha centauri, same difference. 10 ft off the ground with 40 ft trees at the end... Jesus Christ, this guy's a good pilot.
@@2ndfloorsongs I have honestly never even been on Reddit. Not even sure what it is. I am old school.
From a 14000+ hour former Alaskan bush pilot I have to say I’m very impressed. Love the videos please keep posting with commentary. I find the details fascinating. Always wanted to fly ag but family keeps me close to home. Keep it dirty side down.
How many hours on autopilot 😃
@@Twobarpsi Just over 7000 hour with George flying. I’m still an active CFI and owner of an Aeronca Sedan so I haven’t forgotten how to fly.
Can anyone become a bush pilot?
@yeahman.9262 Alaskan Native here, flying in the bush of AK, village to village, across vast expanses of lethal bearritory, with unpredictable weather and sub zero temperatures over half the year. Not just ANYONE can become, An Alaskan Bush Pilot. My dad had a pa-20, tail dragger, I grew up in the back of a small plane like you would take rides in the carseat. Village life in Bush Alaska... it really is, The Last Frontier
Been spraying 10 years and this is spot on! Keep flying and keep educating!
I just came across your channel randomly and I am blown away, this is amazing! Thank you for being such a good commentator while you fly a pretty dynamic route.
"...I do not push over the tree and pull any negative G's, that's a no-no from me. Mainly because I have an open cup of coffee in here and I don;t want to spill it." True 10k hour pilot wisdom.
Thanks a bunch for the entertainment you’ve given me from this old Air Guard Deuce, Airline B-727, DC-10 pilot. I enjoy and agree with your flying wisdom. Best to you. Romain
Your particular skill set isn't in high demand at United Airlines. Love the stall explanation as well as other calculations you're explaining at ten feet off the crop!
You flying is precise and skill like that takes lots of hours to build.
Thanks for sharing!
Probably got most of his hours doing that before getting a job like this? 🤷🏻♂️
@@lanceludwig5349 Doubtful. Most airline pilots started with the airline having never sat at the controls. They have a complete pilot training pipeline. It's either that or former military pilots, but a military pilot would certainly know about accelerated stall.
@@JaredJanhsen all I know is recently I really discovered that j would love to do something like this or something related to flying. Idk just where to go after doing 40 hrs
@@JaredJanhsen you joking? I worked my way up instructing, flying 135, regional, then major. it's easier these days but you still have to "sit at the controls" many hours to make it to an airline
@@JaredJanhsenWhoa whoa whoa, you mean I've been flying pipelines in 110+ degree weather at 500' all this time for nothing??? Where is this delightful straight to the airlines pipeline you speak of! lol
Thank you Captain for the ride along and your relaxed causal speaking voice all while flying close enough to see the grasshoppers expression .
Blue side up blessings
I love watching you guys from the ground! Thanks for posting your perspective.
My father had over 20,000 hours c130h and over 500 ch46 rescue chopper. I really enjoyed your flight! I'm a heavy equipment operator. A job well done is most appreciated by the operator! I'm a ex logger thanks for the heads up! I have laughed so much , thank you from the bottom of my heart. Keep the coffee in the cup! Legend❤🏆👏👍✌🖖
“Too early in the summer to be sick of beans”. -Brokeback Mountain - Mexican Delivery Man
It says a lot about you that you qouted that movie. Nothing good though.
Stay safe. I lost a friend who got me into aviation who had 4,000 hours when he clipped a tree spraying a potato field and augered in and bought the farm. I can't imagine how a life or death situation depends on a fraction of a second decision of when to pull up. I heard Sam Walton (founder of Walmart) lost his son that way. Also glad to see you concerned about drift onto people. Around about 1984 an ag sprayer sprayed me and my gaggle of younger brother and sisters with parathion when I was babysitting them at our midwestern small acreage. The pilot was a known alcoholic and not only was spraying my siblings and I who were running for our lives, but also was spraying the completely wrong field as it turned out. I only found this out because I called every farmer that was adjacent to our property to yell at them and none of them had even hired a sprayer, so they claimed. No action was taken against the pilot because it was based on the word of a minor. The entire acreage was in the dense fog cloud of the spray, and I yelled at my siblings to get inside and nearly had a panic attack because the youngest thought it was funny as hell and kept running around in it just being an ornery little sister, while in the meantime the idiot pilot kept making more passes. She was the only one who had to go to the doctor. Now I know what it's like to be a bug in a bug bombed room.
That same pilot later starred in the movie "independence Day" and saved the planet. :)
Isn't that the scene from Independence Day? Lolol
Love these videos Patrick, my dad was a crop duster and aerial fire fighter in the 70's and 80's,when he first started they where flying super cubs,so I really enjoy your videos,especially with the narration,because I love the information about the things yiur doing, hope you do more
My God, the super cub was a crop duster?
When I was a kid, the cropduster‘s had radial Engines. Lots of powerlines around the farm land we lived on. Totally hazardous!!
What a great narrative. This is the best “dual” I’ve heard since my first Army helicopter instructor, Capt Jon Stevenson, in 1967. Great to hear a true pro these days.
What a gentleman. Thanks for letting us live vicariously for a few minutes.
We had a neighbor (may he rip) flew crop dusters for a living. Started off with the old bi-plane, air tractor with the old radial engine, then one with a turbo prop. Watching him spray was spectacular. He would pull out of the field dang near straight up, almost looks like he stalls it. Comes back down and sprays. He said it kept him from having to go so far out. It was amazing. Cool video man!
Respect to all you Ag pilots out there. Real stick and rudder stuff
Found your channel! Glad I did. Love AG spraying, farming and aviation. Thank you for keeping the American farmers going!🇺🇸
Not sure how this ended up in my feed but I'm glad it did....since it was fun flying around with you and I learned a lot! Stay safe!!
I grew up watching crop dusters flying under the power lines near my house. I love the sound of those air tractors. This was fascinating to watch and hear all the things you are concerned about as you do your job. Very impressive.
Man!!! You are just the Man!!! You ever heard that? Super outstanding pilot and great commentary!! Thank You brother.
Outstanding video!! Great commentary, and you clearly understand what you're doing. Awesome! Stay safe!
I was a military aviator for 16 years and now have a civy flying job, but this man has it all figured out! This job or being a bush pilot (in Alaska or wherever) is just flying at its purest! Its you vs the plane and the elements. Great job, love your videos!
Thanks! What did you fly in the military?
I’ve had family that farmed beans in the delta of Arkansas. Near Lake Village. Watched arial applicators spray beans n cotton. Much admiration to y’all
Awesome! Thanks for taking us along for a ride with you. wow looks like your so close to those trees awesome flying.
Wow. Great stick and rudder skills. Crazy how close you fly to those trees!
Thanks for taking us along in your day of work. Be safe and have fun. Great job narrating us through.
Nice work. Thanks for letting us ride along. I enjoyed watching the planes spray growing up in E MT. They would sometimes use our grass strip to refill their fungicide, to not have to fly back to their base (SDY)
im 67 been around crop dusters most my life this guy one of the best ive ever seen
G'day Patrick, great videos. Mate I totally agree with you not crashing ;-) I was a cop in a rural area and I've been on scene guard and had to search and check in a local ag pilot who crashed and burned, it's not high on my list of favourite memories.
Cool, calm, and on the controls. You got it right... your name is on your work, make it the best. Too many these days never learn that.
I love aircraft and have always had a passion for flying. I am so happy this popped up in my thumbnails. I live in South Dakota and I am memorized watching crop dusters, and now your video. I have learned from this video because I am that guy that will stop my car or semi when it is safe to do so to film and enjoy. I think common sense is in short supply these days. I always pay attention to the pattern of the air craft and do no place myself where they need to pass right over me for their next pass. I respect what you do and do not want to interfere with anyone's lively hood. I will now consider wind direction even if plane is moving away from me, thank you for that. I have zoom on my camera and do not need to be that close. While I maintain my health certificate for commercial driving, my understanding is that medication I take will prevent me from obtaining an FAA health card. I am 53 and though I can not realize my dream, flying will always be my true passion. Thank you for your video and you have a new subscriber.
PS any chance you have access to a two seat that you are experienced with and able to take passenger? For someone that does not have my passion for flying they may not understand. Flying is not just mechanical or adrenaline rush, it is much more and the feeling I get is Spiritual. Even more spiritual would be finding out It is possible to get medical waivers that would allow me to fly, and crop dusting I could do what I love, while able to afford my passion as a living and not a hobby.
Passengers while Crop Dusting would violate the Insurance Policy.
@@sanfranciscobay yes I understand that through my research since 2009. I would love to fly with pilot simulating crop dusting which does not violate private pilot insurance, and would sign iron clad contract negating any repercussions legal or otherwise against pilot. Since 2009 I have found 3 pilots that I did not fulfill this dream. I have a dream not a death wish to fly with just anyone.
Had a great flight instructor, Roger at the University of Minnesota. Kept me humble when necessary. Said some things that couldn’t be repeated in polite company. He made sure I knew I could stall at any airspeed. Also told me to “fly the plane first”, in other words, stay ahead of it and keep it right side up. Don’t worry so much about talking on the radio or fiddling with the instruments.
Roger have you some good advice!
You can stall at "any airspeed, and any attitude". A shame more pilots don't understand this.
I"m an ex Naval Aviator who flew fighters in combat over North Vietnam. Later I had a 33 year career with a major U.S. airline. Some airline guys are really sharp, of course. But you would be shocked how little some experienced airline pilots know about aerodynamics. The good news is that stick and rudder skills are almost never required in airline flying unless you first make a major error in judgement or flight management.
People ask me how much of my skill set would transfer over to airline flying and I always tell them that none of it will. Unless the engines quit or something catastrophic but controllable happens.
Not true at all. Airline flying is all about planning management, not flying skills. And judging from your video you're quite good at planning and management. The flying skill requirement is minimal; however, the one time you can exhibit your stick and rudder skills in on a landing. Executing a silky smooth touch down, on the numbers, on speed, from a stabilized approach, while de-crabbing and transitioning to a slip at just the right instant, while adjusting the throttle in just the correct way, and controlling the pitch attitude precisely is a challenge that Naval Aviators face on every carrier landing (except the crosswind part). And I imagine your challenges are similar in the world of Ag flying. The part you might not be able to stand and the part I didn't like at all is the rigid seniority system where you can't advance unless someone retires ahead of you no matter how good you are. And the low level of excitement. Of course, passengers don't like excitement and neither do the company bosses. You'll be more happy doing Ag flying, but don't think for a second that your skills wouldn't be more than sufficient. Truth be told, many airline pilots aren't very good flyers, but they comply with company procedure and 99.99999% of the time that's good enough because the system is so rigid, so safe, and so regulated that things almost never go wrong. A crisis is usually getting coffee with cream and sugar when you ordered cream only. Airline flying might not match your approach to life very well though. Thanks for the nice video. @@pcohen85
I used to stay with my grandmother across the street from a bean field. I loved watching the plane spraying and then smelled the pesticide! Probably caused some health problems in my life!
I see a few guys like you in my travels as a trucker. I have mad respect for you because you guys fly incredibly well. I have actually sat at a truck stop in Missouri and got to watch and video a crop duster do his thing. Was like having my own air show. I have also seen the aftermath of something gone wrong. Thankfully both walked away. One was just recent, like a week or two ago, in Jamestown, ND. Saw the plane in a field. Then saw the same plane on a scrap trailer and talked to the guys. Said the pilot didn't add enough power on takeoff and stalled the plane and set it down in the field of cows. I have pictures of it laying in the field and on the trailer. Stay safe out there and keep the blue side up.
Thank you sir for another excellant video !!! Love it when you take us along and talk to us !! 650+ private ticket holder here, and always amazed at the skill level you pilots exhibit. Be safe brother !!
Grew up part of my childhood in East Arkansas (St. Francis & Cross Co. ) and watching these guys fly these planes was a daily routine. Air Tractors and Ag Cat bipes. Absolutely amazed at their skill. Great video!
Great point about fixation on fixed objects.
Best and most informative clip I’ve watched. Now I better understand what my son does all summer.
I am ga Pilot and own a Cessna 150K, have my A&P too. I am very, very impressed with your knowledge and Pilot skills. I
see all these folks on Instagram doing crazy things just for a video. You manage an ever changing flight envelope. Wow this is the best video I have seen . Thanks and be safe!
Love your job. 2200 hours since 2018.is amazing. I hope you always keep safety your primary goal. No crash is the goal. Thanks for sharing this with us mortals. I love the modern technology that we can see operating taking all the notes and helping guide you in your day.
That turbine up front is a beast. Aerial spraying has saved my dad a lot of stress and worry when his window to get chemical on his crops was limited. When you're farming alone, you can't be in two places at once. My dad always hired the local aerial sprayer rather than hiring someone with a RoGator.
Object fixation is definitely real!! Your talking about not looking at the trees but looking at where you are going. I’m a paraglider pilot and this is something I see all the time in paragliding, at one of our local sites the LZ is absolutely huge! But there is one lone tree right in the middle, and even with a stall speed of maybe 14-16 mph, and having 3 football fields of area to land, people still get in that one single tree, because they stare at it because they don’t want to hit it, but because they look at it that’s exactly where they go lol.
Same thing happened to a guy I know. He was getting his PG licence. The landing field was HUUUGE, but it had one tractor there.. he landed right on it. lol.
Fascinating flying rarely seen by the public...Thanks for the insight !!!
As a young boy I was in love with cropdusting. In high school my best friends father flew and I got my first job as a ground crewman and flagger. My path to becoming a pilot was cut short with a head injury from football. My best friend made good on his promise to become an aerial applicator. Sadly, he clipped a cell tower guide wire a few years back and was killed.
Long story short, aerial applicators are (no pun intended) a dying breed and there is a shortage of these pilots in 2024. That said the world's food supply would be 1/2 of what it is without ag pilots. And you my friend, are one of the great pilots that has experience and knowledge. May the Lord bless you and keep you safe!!!
PS- "She thinks my (Air) tractors sexy!!!
You awesome, I’m a Pipeline Pilot and fly right over you’alls all the time. Want to get into AirTraktor one day.
AG flyers have always impressed me with their "feel" for flight... Sure is fun to watch good ones fly fields.. (grew up in AZ) Great video...
I used to fly, as a Private Pilot… but OMG, watching you do this 😱😂 I can’t even begin to imagine flying this low, without a nice clear runway ahead of me! 😂 Incredible! 👍😎
Umm...yeah. Totally mesmerizing listening to you talk while you dance the Tango with the smoothness of of Mary Berry mixing her deluxe Lemon
Tray Cake. The drama of what we see out of the cockpit is totally incongruous of your voice and speech pattern. Well done good Sir!! Well done!! May I have your baby? LOL, keep up the good work.
Takeaway - Corn doesn't play. Great commentary & video, thanks for this.
good stuff. man. thanks for sharing. I lost my best friend in a 188b on 4/2/97 in Waynesboro, Georgia dusting. He had just graduated from that ag school in Bainbridge Georgia. I heard they asked him to stay on and be an IP. He declined. He wanted to get in the field. The NTSB report stated he overstressed the plane and lost the right wing. While that is possible, I highly doubt it. He and I had too many hours together for me to buy that. It's possible but we will never know for sure. RIP David. He loved what he did for a living.
Stay safe & Cheers from Louisiana.
I wonder if the wing failed not because of what he was doing to it, but just all the stress on the airframe from over the years and finally it separated?
I wish I knew. I know things get broken in the plane crash. Over-stressed connections I suspect would be all over the airframe. The airplane being completely consumed in the post-crash fire makes determination more difficult I imagine. Again, it is possible but David was such a by-the-book pilot. He freaked out when I decided to do a little skud running down a local river in the 172. I looked over at him. He was not enjoying the flight at all. He was the last person I would think would break the airplane in flight. @@MasterClassComments
probably not, unless they weren't staying up to date on inspections and maintenance. @@MasterClassComments
"Trees are big and hard and hurt airplanes when you hit them" 😂 They probably aren't really easy on the pilots, either. You crop dusters are crazy smart. Tip of my hat to you!
Thank you Sir for this explanation, I grew up in Guyana South America , seeing crop dusters spraying sugar cane, saw them again in Arkansas, listen to you is like I am in the plane too. Thanks
@@aubreymiller2476 I stayed in Georgetown for two weeks about 25 years ago. I still have a Guyana flag and a stuffed baby alligator I bought in the market there. I ate a lot of goat cheese also, haha!
I am happy you did visited Guyana, very beautiful country, also the food is out of world. Thanks again
that comment about the bean plant leaves showing the wake of your plane got an insta subscription from me, boss
4:10 lol flying low and up over the trees, but still has capacity to teach at the same time. 😅 Glad I found this channel finally. 👍
This is amazing to watch. I have a few hours in a small experimental plane and seeing this makes my heart race. Thanks for sharing!!!
A refreshing video. Great commentary and sizup of what you are doing. Looks like a fun job. Happy flying
Cool video
We’ve seen guys like yourself spraying the crops in Michigan and my farms crops. I personally love seeing the awesome ability to fly the hell out of a plane.
Stay safe thanks for sharing your experience with us.
This guy is a trip. I don't even fly and I love watching these vids. I was a jet mechanic in the AF and this guy reminds me of the cool fighter pilots I have met.
I'm surprised your bird doesn't have leading edge slats that deploy under certain airspeeds.. Fantastic video and am definitely encouraged by this. Appreciate yeah for taking the time and opportunity to get insight on another job for aviators. Clearest of skies.
those would cost money. big pharma ceo's need a cheaper plane. that yacht isn't gonna pay for itself. pilots have life insurance
Those slats are unpredictable when you're maneuvering that much. Have one pop up at the wrong time and it slows you down and you're into a tree.
the ailerons on the air tractors droop down when the flaps are deployed in the turn and become a sort of "flaperon"
Great video! It never occurred to me that "you're going to go where you're looking" applies to ag piloting. I first learned about it when I was doing motorcycle track days (ZX6R), and it's absolutely true. Once I started looking where I wanted the bike to go, I was much more fluid and lap times dropped as well. Thanks for taking the time to record and publish this one. I really enjoyed it.
Thanks for thorough explanation and cost breakdown! I had no idea how much spraying costs! I've seen guys sporadically dropping smoke and never even thought of it as a diagnostic tool for dispersal quality. Makes a lot of sense now! Fly Safe Dude!
When I lived in North East Arkansas, I had the privilege of watching pilots like you work. It is amazing to see on the ground and it is even more amazing to see it from your first person perspective. Thanks for helping folks grow food to feed us all.
Calm as a cucumber. Great vid. Excellent situational awareness.
Thank you Patrick. Once again an excellent video. I picked a few things. Thank you. The narration is perfect. It's nice to see the airmanship and technical side of spraying as well. Will be waiting eagerly for your next video.
I’ll make one for you specifically sometime in the near future. I didn’t end up going up north so the next time I have to fly it anywhere other than when I am working I will get some better footage for you.
@@pcohen85 no worries. Your full movement of the controls and the roll rate stood out in this video. Perfect reference.
Man, I sure admire your skill but think you are a bit crazy. Spilled a cup of coffee a few years ago while flying the Scout and went searching for a better solution. Found a cup that is completely spill-proof and I customize it w a leather strap. Bought a bunch for gifts and would be happy to send one down. Thanks for the amazing footage and commentary.
Amazing video. Amazing pilot skill. I enjoy every minute of this.
Absolutely amazing👍 I love watching our food get sprayed with poison
Casually flying and just describing what you’re doing, cool as a cucumber 🤣🤣
Great informative video, I hope new guys getting into this industry realize how valuable the info is that you’re giving. I was old school and had to learn practically everything you’ve said here today. You are a true professional and an inspiration. Nothing like the feeling of being one with the machine, that’s what I see here. Be safe, have fun, make money!!😎😎😎
So awesome watching our food get poison all over it👍😀
@@michaela6147It's a double-edged sword. If you didn't spray the fields the yield would go down and our food would be much more expensive. Commercial agriculture is what keeps a lot of the world from starving. Not a big deal for those of us who can afford organic food, but for a lot of people the choice is eating a little pesticide or starving. The world having a much lower population and eating all organic would be great; so would having peace and no war. But that isn't the world we live in, so spraying is necessary. But our crappy civilization aside, it's wonderful watching this guy dance through the sky. I'm happy to grab beauty where I can.
Well, that was fun! Good work, Patrick!
I very much enjoyed this video. Very informative and entertaining. Thanks for the good content
A couple of the farms here in north Louisiana use float planes to spray . They have dug runways across the field closest to the shop and lined them with plastic back then. They would fill them with water during spray season and land and take off using them. I think they did it because it was cheaper than paving a runway. Just an interesting fact .
Great video enjoyed the plane ride 😀. I have often wondered about all the things that go into those air tractors Patrick you did a excellent job of explaining what you were doing
Enjoyed the video! I have lots of fields close to trees that I sometimes do get sprayed by air; I consider that a last resort due to the extra danger for the pilot to deal with. Nice getting a perspective from the cockpit in those close-quarters rounds. Those trees are going by real fast. Enjoyed the commentary.
Fly safe!
Really cool video! I’ve seen many crop dusters from the air, but it was really interesting to see a glimpse of what’s going on in the cockpit. It’s hard to believe an airline guy wouldn’t understand the aerodynamics of a stall, but I guess there are slackers in every category!
Nice flying Ace! Greetings from Montreal!
Great video thanks, the (in my mind) slow roll rate was quite a surprise to see. You have to anticipate all the time. Great skills.
I don't know what is more impressive your flying or your narration.. Okay, both.
Cool footage!
Flew a Pawnee for years! I miss it still…
Those close flybys over the trees gave me the heebie-jeebies.
I agree. Airline hours should not count as full hours and stalls can happen at any speed once the plane exceeds its critical AOA. This is one of the reasons why fighter pilots are first picks for airliners since they are trained to play within the AOA during BFMs. A fighter can stall at 300kt if not handled right.
It's beautiful watching you dance through the skies. Really interesting to see the job up close from cockpit. I used to repair radars and saw a whole bunch of avionic kit. Was really impressed by how much you use nowadays and your explanation for how it works and what you used it for. Great setup. Keep flying and I'll keep watching.
We lived around farms when I was a kid and I remember seeing crops getting sprayed. A neighbor said these planes were basically hotrods compared to normal private planes because they were all motor.
We had tall distribution lines about 100-150 feet tall. The airplanes would exit the field almost straight up to miss the lines. Very amazing for a kid of about 6 to watch.
A friend and I got chased out of a field of carrots once. We were digging up carrots when we got buzzed. Scared the crap out of us. Fun times for a kid in the farmlands
True masters of their craft. These pilots have balls of steel.
Just about anyone can drive a motor vehicle, but aircraft of any type demand a superior mindset and skill. You're an excellent pilot and this video is very informative and interesting.🙏🙏🙏
Just about anyone drives an automobile.
Not many now days do it well.
FIFY
I live in farm country and love watching the air tractors fly.
Thanks for the ride along! And thanks for explaining how you do the job
I'm only a humble 60hr LSA pilot (and a farmer)...but I just shook my head several times when you said a high time airline pilot did not actually know that a stall is all about angle-of-attack and not airspeed. Unbelievable!!!
Hey cool channel, glad this vid popped up for me. Here's some info I found to help other curious viewers. If you've watched Steveo1kinevo channel, he flies a Socata TBM850 which uses the same engine as this AT 802a. The Pratt and Whitney PT6 turboprop which is one of, if not THE highest-hours-driven vehicle engine model on the planet. I say vehicle and not aircraft because the PT6 is used in many different things from planes and hovercrafts to helicopters and tanks. The PT6 model covers the power range from 600 to 1950 shaft horsepower depending on the model variation, which depends on the application. I remember Steveo saying in one of his vids that the PT6 turboprop is so torque-heavy that it has a very noticeable pull (I think towards starboard) during takeoff on the runway. At first I thought this pilot was like crop dusting in a little 4cyl Cessna like you see in movies. No. This Air Tractor aircraft and its few variants are used for firefighting, military, and government agriculture use in like 60+ countries. The utility value of these aircraft is priceless. The gross weight mentioned in this video, around 16,000 pounds, is very heavy, about as heavy as an F250 truck pulling another F250 on a trailer. The shaft torque is what you'd get from 3 diesel engines on the new F250 from the 6.7 liter power strokes, at half the engine weight of ONE diesel engine. It's about 10 times the power of a typical Cessna 172 plane. So it's quite an engineering marvel, that whole airplane really. And I'm sure very expensive. 😂
First time watching. Excellent commentary, Thanks. Amazing job.
Awesome vid, as a farmer and aviation fan the commentary is nice the explaining why you do certain things is very informative.