The skills are very good but spraying our food/earth with poison ! That is sad Where did we go wrong and blinded to spray what we are about to eat and preserve with poison ????
I've only ever seen this in action once before. I have always been amazed at how these pilots are skilled and can maneuver so close to the ground. I don't think enough credit is given to these pilots and how their job benefits the AG industry. Thank you for what you do!
As a truck driver, I get to see you guys in action every now and then. I am always amazed at the sharp banking turns you make and the way you pull up at the last second and clear the trees/power lines. Absolutely fascinating! I like where you placed your cameras and your narration was both very informative and interesting as well. I really enjoyed this! 👍
Just now finding these! Really enjoyed watching you methodically fly and apply. My grandfather ran a spraying service in SW Oklahoma back in the early 1950’s. He owned 2 cubs and my dad flew for him as well. My grandfather was also a civilian air instructor for the Army back in WW2. My dad told me that he would always tell his students: “The words a pilot should never say are, ‘I think I can make it’”. Looks like you subscribe to that advice as well. Well done!
@@michaeldautry No they were both high wing cubs that were retrofitted into sprayers. Pulled the front seats and replaced them with 40 gallon chemical tanks. Took off overweight every time. He sold them both when he sold the business in the late 50’s. Tracked one of them down by the tail number in Montana. It was fully restored. One day I’d like to make a trip to go see it. Don’t know what happened to the other one.
Reminds me of flying in my uncles Aeronca Champ when I was a kid. Lots of farmers in the area were pilots from WW2 training and had a strip of grass for visits from their friends. Great memories. Excellent video and great camerawork
As a hopper truck driver, I've set along side the road and watched these pilots dust their fields in Arkansas. So cool to watch from the ground. So thanks for the ride. I really enjoyed it. Now I know what it's all about from the air.
As a pipeline pilot I know we don't get along well with you ag guys but I've always had immense respect for what you do and find myself staring at you if I find myself in the vicinity as you work
I remember years ago my cousin had a farm with an airstrip for AG planes and occasionally I’d go out and watch them takeoff, land, and spray, and it was like going to an airshow for free. One time an AG plane was over loaded and the pilot took off and ran his wheels into the trees at the end of the runway. He didn’t crash but he immediately landed the plane and chewed the loader a new one for overloading the plane which he deserved, but I also thought the pilot should have checked the weights before he took off. Anyway, cool video that brought back many good memories and also allowed me to see the skills these guys have flying those planes. My personal favorite to watch was the bi-wing AG Cat.
Crop dusters pilots are working in a very hazardous profession. They can only fly in low winds which generally means early morning hours. They are handling hazardous materials and a fully loaded plane flys like a mushy pig. So I'm not sure how fun crop dusting is. Very unforgiving job Remember the first thing he does is fly under high voltage lines just after takeoff because fully loaded he has no other option
The human population count being as numerous as it is requires these measures + the Haber-Bosch process. If humankind were capable of any collective intelligence, it would use attrition to get the count of mouths to feed down to where a return to pure food would be possible.
i grew up partially in the country on a cotton plantation and enjoyed watching when the crop-duster would spray the fields next to our house. helped fueled my admiration for planes and anything aviation. thanks.
I’ve always been fascinated watching crop dusters fly. Always figured you guys had the best job ever. Demanding as heck, obviously, but you get to play low level bomber every day. Y’all make it look easy, and that is a testament to your skill.
Hi Tyson, thank you so much for making this video. My father did crop dusting for over 25 years in Puerto Rico, and although I flew with him many times in many different airplanes, never in a crop duster obviously. My dad LOVED aviation, he was a pilot of various airplanes for about 45 years altogether. Your video brought back many memories of me watching my dad fly the crop duster (he flew a two wing Grumman G-164A and later on a single wing Cessna 188) and me at 10 years old wondering what it was like to be inside that plane. This video is the visualization of what I've wondered for so many years. My dad retired from piloting many years back yet the stories and the memories lived on. He passed away 5 years ago, and this video just brought him back to life for me. It gave me an additional level of appreciation for what he did to support our family. Thank you for your passion and dedication, and for putting this video together. I appreciate your efforts immensely. Blessings to you and yours.
Great video. I drive a Peterbilt over the road and see you guys popping up over the interstate and always assumed it was a dangerous job but you make it look easier than dodging bad drivers on the highway. Much more interesting than staring at a highway all day. I chose the wrong occupation. Thanks for sharing.
Truckers are needed by every creature walking on earth! If the product isn't where it needs to be it's worthless. Thanks for doing a very tough job that requires a definite skill set, that many cannot do, and many others won't do. We need you truckers! And, running a big ol' Pete has it's on satisfactions, for sure! You have my respect. Having said that, I wish I could do what they guy does, too.
Very cool and intense. The view when you make a turn and it pans from looking at you to looking out the front quarter is just...incredible. Really makes you feel like you're flying. What a great shot. 👍
At the end of the video once he is taxing back to the loading pad he sounds like he is the captain of an airliner thanking the passengers for flying with that carrier. I love the sound of the turbine and the prop.........aviation is great! Great video.
Just amazing! My wife grew up in Moses Lake WA and when we visit the crop dusters fly under the power lines and turn on a wing and spray the crops, just amazing. Thank you for posting this video!! Sooooooo Cool!
Worked at a flying service in the Mississippi Delta back in the 90's. The pilot took over from his uncle and started out with an Ag Cat with a 250 gallon hopper and it would take forever to finish up some of the bigger fields we had to spray or fertilize. Then, he moved to a 301 Air Tractor and that was a big improvement since it held a little bit more. But, my favorite was when he got the 402 Air Tractor with a Garrett conversion kit. That thing was loud when sitting to be loaded but man that plane was a workhorse. Filled that 400 gallon hopper to the max and never had a problem taking off any runway with wet or dry loads. It just didn't matter. If I am not mistaken, the Pratt & Whitney had to spool up before taking off but the Garrett you just poured the coals to it and it was gone. For example, we worked a field with two 402's one day, my boss' Garrett and his buddy's Pratt. Long story short, we had to wait on the Pratt because it had build up before taking off, but the Garrett you would just loaded it and pour the coals to it. Man, that thing was a beast. Flying service about two miles away had two King Cats with Garretts on them and those were constantly running all day. They were loud but you didn't have to worry about not having the power to get off the runway fully loaded. Brought back memories and just wanted to share my story and thank you for the video.
I have to give it to you guys the mental work is incredible and to transform that into the flying makes you guys some of the most incurable pilots I can think of. Thanks for the ride
Only 3 words describe this pilot, BALLS OF STEEL!! Ag pilots are true seat of pants pilots. Thanks for posting, it makes this old "private pilot" envious of your skills.
Very enjoyable ride. I am an old taildragger pilot from the 1970's & 1980's that grew up around crop dusting back in the days of Cubs, Stearman and Ag Cat dusters in the delta land of Louisiana.
Really impressive seeing an AgTractor spraying. I always stop what I’m doing to watch. That is pretty fast compared to old spray planes. Lot of stuff going on. I flew commercial pax and freight for 30 years, but not nearly as challenging as spraying. Now I fly my Cessna 206 to backcountry airstrips here in northern Rockies.
Being surrounded by bean and corn fields, we have a great show every year of these crop dusters doing their thing. It's always amazing to watch. And we have both fixed wing and rotor aircraft that conduct the annual spraying. The helos can really twist and turn on a dime!!!
Wayne Handley used to do a routine he called agrobatics in a Pitts, where he would simulate some aspects of ag flight. I'm not sure if he still does the airshow bit but he's made several instructional videos for the ag community in various ag planes, you might find something uploaded here on youtube.
Years ago, I worked a farm & ag related businesses so different jobs most days. Soy beans and corn were the main crops. A helicopter was used to spray. This was a very small unit, hauled to the farm on a trailer. Amazing action in the air though. The pilot would pull up, turn 180, drop back down, power up, hit the sprayer and in a minute be at the other end of the field looking like a bird chasing a grass hopper again. I eventually helped produce a flying spray rig called "sky tractor", an ultralight plane with "my" spray tank & equipment. It was a fun time. I still, 45 years later, enjoy watching crop dusters work. Thanks for the ride
You're an awesome pilot. I'm a pilot and always enjoyed watching AG pilots around where I live. I've flown 12 different types, have a high performance rating, and flew planes with retractable wheels and constant speed props. I just wish I'd gotten a tail dagger rating. Maybe some day. Be safe and enjoy flying.
Wow Tyson! This is such a great video. Everything is so precise and calculated. I enjoyed how you explained everything, and all of the different camera angles were awesome. So cool to see how great you guys are doin. I know it takes a great team to keep that operation goin …so cool… 🤙
I’m pretty fortunate as there are a couple of Ag Sprayers close to where I live. The farm that is right beside my house uses them all the time so I get to see these amazing pilots extremely close up. Absolutely some the best flying I’ve ever seen. Love these videos and the commentary by the pilot. Fly safe
Great video, not as smooth inside as it looks like while observing from the ground. Loved all the different views also especially flight control surfaces.
Great video. Very accurate. I spent 8 seasons in a piston Thrush in South Georgia. We had a lot more trees to dodge, but it brought back a lot of memories.
Sometimes, when seeing someone having this much fun at "work", I tend to be a little jealous. Great video and great job. Thanks for sharing what you love and do.
This is true flying. Amazing skills! Awesome! I always thought that crop dusting would’ve been the freest form of flying. You’re definitely not a glorified bus driver.
I grew up in a rice farming community west of Houston. At one time, we lived about a half mile South of a crop dusting service. At that time, they flew old, ,open cockpit biplanes. I think they were Stearmans. I used to love watching them come over the house, low and slow, making their landing approach. And those old radial engines sounded so sweet! But yeah, I had a real appreciation for the skill those guys possessed.
@@AgAviationAdventures I was actually about to ask if you had relocated the switch to the seat or the stick because it seems like your hand always goes to the seat frame after pulling the money handle, but there's also a switch on the thumb that looks like it might be a rocker. Mine is still in the usual spot behind the throttle but I've been hearing about guys putting them on the stick and I've been thinking about giving it a try. Do you prefer it in that spot more than behind the throttle? Moving the fan brake switch to the top of the money handle made a huge difference, and if moving the flaps is a similar story I might have to get that done this winter.
This is very interesting to me, because for summer work out of high school, I was a flagman for a crop-duster. Back in the old days the spraying was done at night. We had wands for the crop-duster to line up on. After they were lined up, we paced off a certain number of steps for the next pass. Sometimes we got a bath of chemical spray-probably not very healthy. This was in Nampa, Idaho. Shortly after I quit the job, one of our pilots collided with another crop-duster from a different company. They were spraying fields close to each other and were aware of each other, but somehow managed to run into each other. Both pilots were killed. This was around 1971 or '72.
Husband worked at a Ag company that used these guys now and then. His stories.... "These guys are crazy". He really enjoyed working with them. All great guys. Southern Ohio.
@@AgAviationAdventures His crazy is "Really good to be around." They really enjoyed their work, and done top notch job at it. Dan was proud to mix and load them. No offense intended at all. None.
I like this, My Nephew sent it to me, he is a pilot, I use to fly, I will watch some more of your videos, I gave you a thumbs up. I was thinking, It is a good thing those were kite eating trees and not plane eating trees LOL.
Well done, as a 12,000hr pilot, commercial, airline, instructor, tail dragger and bi-plane Pilot it’s great to see the skill and professionalism here. I very much admire your work, great channel sir.
Great to see all your videos. In 1964 I worked as a ground crew in support of Ag work with DH Chipmunks here in England. 70 gal loads, fluorescent markers in field with repeater coloured beads in cockpit. No radios or phones. Village phone boxes and 1 inch to the mile maps. Selected bases away by 30 seconds on any field in a Ford van at 30 mph for a grass strip with 100 yards clear either end. Put the windsock up and hand signals! Great to see all the technology now.
I live in Corpus Christi in a neighborhood very close to where you have sprayed and it was a real pleasure watching you work from the top of my fence. My daughter really enjoyed watching as well. Great flying!
Excellent, excellent video.. Nicely done!! Question: does ur bank angle change in ur turns as weight decreases? What is ur max bank? And how much flap do u use? Are they electric? I dont see ur hand moving.. Ok ,,its a bunch a questions!! Keep safe..
Thanks for watching. Yes as I decrease weight I will make steeper turns. I don’t have anything that tells me my bank angle so I’m not sure what it is. My flap switch is located on my stick and it runs an electric motor.
I bought a ‘47 Stinson 108-1 from one of the engineers who worked for Air Tractor in Olney, Texas. I was given a tour of the facility. I respect the design philosophies which the company builds its aircraft. I was told, as we all know, there must be certain elements present to create a fire. First there must be oxygen. Second there must be a fuel source and third there must be a source of ignition. There is little one can do about oxygen but you can certainly keep the fuel away from the ignition source. Air Tractor makes sure all of the fuel lines and oil lines are routed on opposite sides of the aircraft. Ag planes do crash. It is the nature and risk of the business but at the time of my visit which was 20 years ago, there had not been an Air Tractor which had crashed and burned. Impressive.
Unfortunately accidents happen and you can’t mitigate every risk. Last year we lost two pilots to post crash fires in their air tractors. But we all understand the risks.
@@AgAviationAdventures I wonder if the switch to turbofans increased the risk of fire. Never the less I enjoyed your video. I was taught by a crop duster the ins and outs of low level flight. I never flew an air tractor but have some time in a banner tow Pawnee set up. Still makes me smile to think about it.
Thanks Scotabot! I flew a radial Thrush my first season and then spent two seasons in a Garrett Thrush. They both have their pros and cons but I'm just used to the Air Tractor now.
Outstanding video! Your videos always interest me to no end. i have one question. When you are so close to the ground, do you feel a buffer under the wings. In other words can you feel it cushioning you underneath especially as you are goin in to start each pass? This is so fascinating that i could ask a 1000 questions. I'm in my 50s but always turn into a little kid each time i see an ag pilot runnin. Thanks and keep putting out great content!
This is something I really want to do! Always been so amazed and hope I can find my way into the flying world, just incredible! Here to learn and thanks for the amazing vid! Definitely following
Great video Tyson! Appreciate all the information. Do you actually run the tank dry or do you just estimate when you can’t make a full pass, then reload? On ground rigs, we use a flow meter to tell us how much is left in the tank and can refill at the end of the pass instead of getting halfway through then running out. Also, I assume the pump is a centrifugal pump? Is there an electrical brake that stops the little propeller from spinning the pump when the tank is empty? I’m an ag guy that sprays with ground rigs, so interested in how your application compares to ground. I’m also a PPL so very impressed with your skills. Keep the great videos coming!
Thanks for watching Monte. I try not to run it dry because what is coming out of the booms is also what lubricates the pump. I have an electric brake on it so when it gets to about 5 gallons I head back. If I stop in the middle of a pass I can see on my GPS screen where to start spraying again. The pump is the small piece under the airplane with the black blades. It's driven by the air moving over it.
Nice video!! l grew up watching Stearmans spraying cotton fields in west Texas in the early 60's. My older brother was a flagman for a spraying service back then. Thanks for the ride along!!
Man you fly so low!!!! I just took my intro flight today, so this is incredibly impressive to me! It must have been hard to get used to how close the ground is 😆
My brother in law used to do this for living. One plane went down in a field of peas catching the gear and sucked in. Another time had landed taxing when a pickup crossed the airstrip in front of him. Crashed into the side of the truck. Flipped the plane over. It was when he released the harness is when he got a little hurt. Not thinking smelling fuel wanting to exit now. It was after that he changed careers to medicine. He did a mock run with me as if doing a field. You are busy as described here. What the camera doesn't show is the feel of the plane pulling up over trees pivoting a wing over slipping through the air with pretty good g forces. Incredible rush.
@@slkgeothermal Don't mind Chris, I don't think he understood your question. The flaps themselves have no set positions, it's just a switch that you hold until you get to whatever setting you want. There are enough left hand levers in the cockpit without adding another one for flaps, and seeing as how the flaps are pretty huge it would take considerable effort to physically deploy them, so using electric flaps with a switch was the best (probably only) choice. There are no degree stops beyond a mark or two on the left flap itself to give you an idea of where they're at. It's a better fit for ag because there are dozens of factors that change how much flap you need, and it changes with nearly every turn, so choosing between three or four positions would only fit a handful of scenarios and be somewhat of a detriment the rest of the time. If you look closely, you'll also notice that the ailerons droop with the flaps at roughly a 50% rate, so any time you have your flaps down, your ailerons are contributing a bit of lift too. Drooped ailerons get stick heavy the further down they go, they require more rudder to counteract adverse yaw, and the roll rate goes down too...so ideally you only use flaps after you've set the turn up and roll into the bank you want, not before.
Bloody amazing. I've only got 1600 hrs or so, but mostly in taildraggers. Used to fly Tiger Moths down here in Australia. The only time we'd get that low is on departure or approach - you guys have nerves of steel!
Awesome video! Hopefully get to do this one day. I noticed, do you adjust your power at all during your turns between rows, and what do you normally keep your throttle at on a normal pass?
What you have just watched is the reason there are damn few old crop dusters. These guys are a special breed, harkening back to the old days of aviation. Absolutely terrifying. And precision flying. Incredible skills.
Making a very dangerous job look, as a mundane effort is the mark of a skilled professional whether it be a pro dirt track motorcycle racer or skilled ag pilot. Great job of flying and explaining your field passes.
How cool. I lived and worked in the San Joaquin Valley for many years. Always loved watching the Ag Pilots. Now we’re up by Sequoia in 3 Rivers. It’s all about Helicopters here. (And Fire Bombers) Those guys “Clink” when they walk. Great Video Cheers!
Love the video. So very informative about the actual spraying process. Loved seeing you use the flaps while turning....I'm assuming to tighten your turn radius?
My house is under a turn around point for one field and I grab a lawn chair to watch, it's a thrill to see these guys fly. Such great pilots!
Thanks for watching!
Use a gun it’s faster dumbass
The skills are very good but spraying our food/earth with poison !
That is sad
Where did we go wrong and blinded to spray what we are about to eat and preserve with poison ????
Yepper know what you are saying, we also where blessed to count the rivets on the bottom of the bird.
thats how how we all get cancer in the AG world
I've only ever seen this in action once before. I have always been amazed at how these pilots are skilled and can maneuver so close to the ground. I don't think enough credit is given to these pilots and how their job benefits the AG industry. Thank you for what you do!
Thanks for watching and for the kind words!
Thanks Tyson. This is definitely the best ag aviation video I've seen. And thanks for not screwing it up by adding music.
Thanks for watching.
WOW! You make it look smooth and easy. As a 13,000 hour airline pilot I know it is not. Very nice job. Well narrated video
Thank you!
@@AgAviationAdventures my
@@AgAviationAdventures my
I’m 16,000 hour airline pilot and I’m shitting bricks watching this😱😱😱Very impressive!!!!!
@@AgAviationAdventures hold on, you have to THREAD THE NEEDLE as soon as you are wheels up??!!!! Jeez Louise
As a truck driver, I get to see you guys in action every now and then. I am always amazed at the sharp banking turns you make and the way you pull up at the last second and clear the trees/power lines. Absolutely fascinating! I like where you placed your cameras and your narration was both very informative and interesting as well. I really enjoyed this! 👍
Thanks for watching!
@@AgAviationAdventures I just subscribed too! 👍
Thanks we appreciate that!
this is some amazing tight flying, this gentleman knows his trade...thanks for uploading, awesome footage!
Just now finding these! Really enjoyed watching you methodically fly and apply. My grandfather ran a spraying service in SW Oklahoma back in the early 1950’s. He owned 2 cubs and my dad flew for him as well. My grandfather was also a civilian air instructor for the Army back in WW2. My dad told me that he would always tell his students: “The words a pilot should never say are, ‘I think I can make it’”. Looks like you subscribe to that advice as well. Well done!
Thanks for watching Patrick! We appreciate having you along for the ride.
They used to make the super cubs into biplanes for ag work, did your dad have any of the biplane cubs?
@@michaeldautry No they were both high wing cubs that were retrofitted into sprayers. Pulled the front seats and replaced them with 40 gallon chemical tanks. Took off overweight every time. He sold them both when he sold the business in the late 50’s. Tracked one of them down by the tail number in Montana. It was fully restored. One day I’d like to make a trip to go see it. Don’t know what happened to the other one.
Reminds me of flying in my uncles Aeronca Champ when I was a kid.
Lots of farmers in the area were pilots from WW2 training and had a strip of grass for visits from their friends.
Great memories.
Excellent video and great camerawork
That would have been a pretty memorable time.
This is unquestionably the BEST flying video I’ve ever watched! Love the camera positions!
Thanks glad you liked it!
@@AgAviationAdventures What camera you are using?
@@robrob9050 Insta 360
As a hopper truck driver, I've set along side the road and watched these pilots dust their fields in Arkansas. So cool to watch from the ground. So thanks for the ride. I really enjoyed it. Now I know what it's all about from the air.
Thanks we appreciate you watching.
As a pipeline pilot I know we don't get along well with you ag guys but I've always had immense respect for what you do and find myself staring at you if I find myself in the vicinity as you work
Thanks for watching Trey. I don’t think I’ve ever worked around pipeline patrol. Why is it that ag and pipeline don’t get along?
@@AgAviationAdventures They both have to maneuver sometimes to avoid hitting each other.
I remember years ago my cousin had a farm with an airstrip for AG planes and occasionally I’d go out and watch them takeoff, land, and spray, and it was like going to an airshow for free. One time an AG plane was over loaded and the pilot took off and ran his wheels into the trees at the end of the runway. He didn’t crash but he immediately landed the plane and chewed the loader a new one for overloading the plane which he deserved, but I also thought the pilot should have checked the weights before he took off. Anyway, cool video that brought back many good memories and also allowed me to see the skills these guys have flying those planes. My personal favorite to watch was the bi-wing AG Cat.
Thanks for watching Preston. Yeah it’s the responsibility of the pilot to make sure they can takeoff although I can understand why he would be upset.
By far the best video you have put out in all of your videos ! I think it’s probably the best video on crop dusting on all of UA-cam well done!!👍🇺🇸
Thank you for the very kind words James. Please feel free to share.
Have to agree with you.
Thanks for watching Fritz.
Suck up
With out any doubt... You Sir... and your colleagues.. Are some of the most amazing pilots!
Thank you for the kind words!
That’s gotta be one of the coolest and most fun piloting careers there is, except maybe fighter/attack jets. Incredible skill involved !
I would love to get a ride in a fighter jet. That just looks like the bees knees to me.
That's true but a agriculture crop duster pilot has a short life span
I'll bet a crop duster pilot could do some serious butt kicking in a fighter jet.
Crop dusters pilots are working in a very hazardous profession. They can only fly in low winds which generally means early morning hours. They are handling hazardous materials and a fully loaded plane flys like a mushy pig. So I'm not sure how fun crop dusting is. Very unforgiving job
Remember the first thing he does is fly under high voltage lines just after takeoff because fully loaded he has no other option
This pays a lot better and know one is trying to blast you out of the sky. Besides that, you are the 4 star General.
I'm 54 and still love watching these when they are spraying. I live in an agriculture region and grew up in Washington where these are all over
That’s great thanks for watching!
"What do you do for a living?"
"Oh, I fly a plane directly at trees and power lines and pull up at the last second."
Amazing work. Fly safe!
Thanks for watching.
"I poison people."
@@hans_____ I think you meant feed people, loser.
@@darrenc3439 Yes. Feed people poison. If he hadn't sprayed it, it would have been feeding people food.
The human population count being as numerous as it is requires these measures + the Haber-Bosch process. If humankind were capable of any collective intelligence, it would use attrition to get the count of mouths to feed down to where a return to pure food would be possible.
i grew up partially in the country on a cotton plantation and enjoyed watching when the crop-duster would spray the fields next to our house. helped fueled my admiration for planes and anything aviation. thanks.
Thanks for watching Sheldon!
I’ve always been fascinated watching crop dusters fly. Always figured you guys had the best job ever. Demanding as heck, obviously, but you get to play low level bomber every day. Y’all make it look easy, and that is a testament to your skill.
It’s an alright job that’s for sure.
Hi Tyson, thank you so much for making this video. My father did crop dusting for over 25 years in Puerto Rico, and although I flew with him many times in many different airplanes, never in a crop duster obviously. My dad LOVED aviation, he was a pilot of various airplanes for about 45 years altogether. Your video brought back many memories of me watching my dad fly the crop duster (he flew a two wing Grumman G-164A and later on a single wing Cessna 188) and me at 10 years old wondering what it was like to be inside that plane. This video is the visualization of what I've wondered for so many years. My dad retired from piloting many years back yet the stories and the memories lived on. He passed away 5 years ago, and this video just brought him back to life for me. It gave me an additional level of appreciation for what he did to support our family. Thank you for your passion and dedication, and for putting this video together. I appreciate your efforts immensely. Blessings to you and yours.
Ahh, this is amazing! Thanks for the comment Victor. We love to hear things like this.
Great video. I drive a Peterbilt over the road and see you guys popping up over the interstate and always assumed it was a dangerous job but you make it look easier than dodging bad drivers on the highway. Much more interesting than staring at a highway all day. I chose the wrong occupation. Thanks for sharing.
I can’t imagine having to drive an 18 wheeler through the city so my hat off to you.
Truckers are needed by every creature walking on earth! If the product isn't where it needs to be it's worthless. Thanks for doing a very tough job that requires a definite skill set, that many cannot do, and many others won't do. We need you truckers! And, running a big ol' Pete has it's on satisfactions, for sure! You have my respect. Having said that, I wish I could do what they guy does, too.
Very cool and intense. The view when you make a turn and it pans from looking at you to looking out the front quarter is just...incredible. Really makes you feel like you're flying. What a great shot. 👍
Thank you!
At the end of the video once he is taxing back to the loading pad he sounds like he is the captain of an airliner thanking the passengers for flying with that carrier. I love the sound of the turbine and the prop.........aviation is great! Great video.
Gotta love a turbine engine!
Just amazing! My wife grew up in Moses Lake WA and when we visit the crop dusters fly under the power lines and turn on a wing and spray the crops, just amazing. Thank you for posting this video!! Sooooooo Cool!
Thanks for watching Mike. We love Moses Lake.
Being a pilot myself i can confirm this is extremely difficult. And Jesus Christ he makes it look so effortless. Amazing!
Thanks for watching John.
I don’t think Jesus has anything to do with it.
But he might.
JC has no part in this
JC will come into play when he runs into the power lines at the end of the airfield
@@triumphmanful Why care to say it anyway ,afraid of being wrong ?
Worked at a flying service in the Mississippi Delta back in the 90's. The pilot took over from his uncle and started out with an Ag Cat with a 250 gallon hopper and it would take forever to finish up some of the bigger fields we had to spray or fertilize. Then, he moved to a 301 Air Tractor and that was a big improvement since it held a little bit more. But, my favorite was when he got the 402 Air Tractor with a Garrett conversion kit. That thing was loud when sitting to be loaded but man that plane was a workhorse. Filled that 400 gallon hopper to the max and never had a problem taking off any runway with wet or dry loads. It just didn't matter. If I am not mistaken, the Pratt & Whitney had to spool up before taking off but the Garrett you just poured the coals to it and it was gone. For example, we worked a field with two 402's one day, my boss' Garrett and his buddy's Pratt. Long story short, we had to wait on the Pratt because it had build up before taking off, but the Garrett you would just loaded it and pour the coals to it. Man, that thing was a beast. Flying service about two miles away had two King Cats with Garretts on them and those were constantly running all day. They were loud but you didn't have to worry about not having the power to get off the runway fully loaded. Brought back memories and just wanted to share my story and thank you for the video.
Thanks for sharing! I’m glad this was able to drum up some nice memories for you.
when he pulled over the trees I almost had an involuntary bodily function!!!!
😂
I went "holly shit", paused and straight to check the comments xD
@@heeduardo exactly what I did, looking for the comment “I am witnessing an idiot in action” 😂
I have to give it to you guys the mental work is incredible and to transform that into the flying makes you guys some of the most incurable pilots I can think of. Thanks for the ride
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Only 3 words describe this pilot, BALLS OF STEEL!! Ag pilots are true seat of pants pilots. Thanks for posting, it makes this old "private pilot" envious of your skills.
Thanks for watching Damien. It’s just a lot of hours behind the stick to be proficient and comfortable.
That plane looks like a ton of fun to fly ! It amazes me how much dusting you can get done with one tank
It has it's ups and downs :)
Incredible camera work and video. Dusting looks much more dangerous than one would think with all the obstacles. Stay safe!
Thanks for watching Nick!
Very enjoyable ride. I am an old taildragger pilot from the 1970's & 1980's that grew up around crop dusting back in the days of Cubs, Stearman and Ag Cat dusters in the delta land of Louisiana.
That is very cool! Bet those were the days.
Really impressive seeing an AgTractor spraying. I always stop what I’m doing to watch. That is pretty fast compared to old spray planes. Lot of stuff going on. I flew commercial pax and freight for 30 years, but not nearly as challenging as spraying. Now I fly my Cessna 206 to backcountry airstrips here in northern Rockies.
It sounds like you’re living the dream! We’d love to get something like that and fly the backcountry.
Being surrounded by bean and corn fields, we have a great show every year of these crop dusters doing their thing. It's always amazing to watch. And we have both fixed wing and rotor aircraft that conduct the annual spraying. The helos can really twist and turn on a dime!!!
Appreciate you watching and thanks for the comment!!
This should be an attraction at an airshow
Thanks for watching!
We had a crop duster show up at a local Air Show. He didn't spray but he made a few passes as if he was.
I was thinking Olympic sport ?? Just thinking this Cat is Cool and Smooth as ice on a glass table !!!
Wayne Handley used to do a routine he called agrobatics in a Pitts, where he would simulate some aspects of ag flight. I'm not sure if he still does the airshow bit but he's made several instructional videos for the ag community in various ag planes, you might find something uploaded here on youtube.
Years ago, I worked a farm & ag related businesses so different jobs most days. Soy beans and corn were the main crops. A helicopter was used to spray. This was a very small unit, hauled to the farm on a trailer. Amazing action in the air though. The pilot would pull up, turn 180, drop back down, power up, hit the sprayer and in a minute be at the other end of the field looking like a bird chasing a grass hopper again. I eventually helped produce a flying spray rig called "sky tractor", an ultralight plane with "my" spray tank & equipment.
It was a fun time. I still, 45 years later, enjoy watching crop dusters work. Thanks for the ride
Thanks for watching!
You're an awesome pilot. I'm a pilot and always enjoyed watching AG pilots around where I live. I've flown 12 different types, have a high performance rating, and flew planes with retractable wheels and constant speed props. I just wish I'd gotten a tail dagger rating. Maybe some day. Be safe and enjoy flying.
Thanks for watching Walter. Sounds like you’ve had lots of great experiences.
Balls of steel. You make it look sooo easy. That's a true professional. Your skill is off the scale
Thanks for watching!
Man I love watching you. It's almost calming. Saw it a lot when I was a boy. Now I can see it from the pilots point. Great.
Glad you enjoy it!
My grandfather's name is Howard Baggett. Big AG spray guy. Your videos bring back so many memories.
I’m glad we bring back memories for you! Thanks for watching.
Wow Tyson! This is such a great video. Everything is so precise and calculated. I enjoyed how you explained everything, and all of the different camera angles were awesome. So cool to see how great you guys are doin. I know it takes a great team to keep that operation goin …so cool… 🤙
Hey thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it.
I’m pretty fortunate as there are a couple of Ag Sprayers close to where I live. The farm that is right beside my house uses them all the time so I get to see these amazing pilots extremely close up. Absolutely some the best flying I’ve ever seen. Love these videos and the commentary by the pilot. Fly safe
Thanks for watching!
Great video, not as smooth inside as it looks like while observing from the ground. Loved all the different views also especially flight control surfaces.
Thanks for watching Dave.
I love watching these air tractors in action....I know these pilots must be very focused or else, but they make it look so easy.
Thanks for the comment, Dan!
Great video. Very accurate. I spent 8 seasons in a piston Thrush in South Georgia. We had a lot more trees to dodge, but it brought back a lot of memories.
Thanks for watching dale!
Sometimes, when seeing someone having this much fun at "work", I tend to be a little jealous. Great video and great job. Thanks for sharing what you love and do.
Thanks for watching William!
Simply the best Video! It’s as if one at a Duster school! Keep up ! You fit in the skies well! Thanks
Thanks for watching Jesus.
SW Missouri here, and I find crop dusters fascinating. Ive always wondered what the view is like from the pilot's seat. Thanks for the video!
Thanks for watching!!
This is true flying. Amazing skills! Awesome! I always thought that crop dusting would’ve been the freest form of flying. You’re definitely not a glorified bus driver.
Thanks for watching!
I grew up in a rice farming community west of Houston. At one time, we lived about a half mile South of a crop dusting service. At that time, they flew old, ,open cockpit biplanes. I think they were Stearmans. I used to love watching them come over the house, low and slow, making their landing approach. And those old radial engines sounded so sweet! But yeah, I had a real appreciation for the skill those guys possessed.
The radials have an amazing sound!
I see your flaps being used quite a bit at the end of each run and through the turn. Is that one of the levers on your right side. Nice coordination.
No it’s actually a switch that is mounted on my stick.
@@AgAviationAdventures I was actually about to ask if you had relocated the switch to the seat or the stick because it seems like your hand always goes to the seat frame after pulling the money handle, but there's also a switch on the thumb that looks like it might be a rocker. Mine is still in the usual spot behind the throttle but I've been hearing about guys putting them on the stick and I've been thinking about giving it a try. Do you prefer it in that spot more than behind the throttle? Moving the fan brake switch to the top of the money handle made a huge difference, and if moving the flaps is a similar story I might have to get that done this winter.
Best Ag aviation instructional of all time. Thank you!
Thanks for watching.
I LIKE IT!!! Brings back the many hours in an AG cat and eatin' fertilizer dust!
Haha! Thanks for watching Dave.
Do you have Parkinson's now at a later age from the crop dust?
@@michaelace4739 no ill effects other than wearing my shoes on the wrong feet sometimes. LOL!
This is very interesting to me, because for summer work out of high school, I was a flagman for a crop-duster. Back in the old days the spraying was done at night. We had wands for the crop-duster to line up on. After they were lined up, we paced off a certain number of steps for the next pass. Sometimes we got a bath of chemical spray-probably not very healthy. This was in Nampa, Idaho. Shortly after I quit the job, one of our pilots collided with another crop-duster from a different company. They were spraying fields close to each other and were aware of each other, but somehow managed to run into each other. Both pilots were killed. This was around 1971 or '72.
They still do a lot of night spraying in Nampa. That’s sad to hear about the collision. I can’t imagine trying to spray at night.
Wow, I didn't realize how dangerous this could be. You really have to pay attention to what you're doing!
Yeah flying low takes a little extra attention.
@@AgAviationAdventures ...and skill. A little extra skill :-)
....and balls. :-)
Husband worked at a Ag company that used these guys now and then. His stories.... "These guys are crazy". He really enjoyed working with them. All great guys. Southern Ohio.
Haha I think we’re “normal”.
@@AgAviationAdventures His crazy is "Really good to be around." They really enjoyed their work, and done top notch job at it. Dan was proud to mix and load them. No offense intended at all. None.
I like this, My Nephew sent it to me, he is a pilot, I use to fly, I will watch some more of your videos, I gave you a thumbs up. I was thinking, It is a good thing those were kite eating trees and not plane eating trees LOL.
Haha welcome!
Well done, as a 12,000hr pilot, commercial, airline, instructor, tail dragger and bi-plane Pilot it’s great to see the skill and professionalism here. I very much admire your work, great channel sir.
Thanks for watching.
That makes me nervous when you are coming up to the tree line at the edge of the field. One mistake and you crash into the trees. Ouch!
You definitely want to pull up.
Best words of wisdom in this video
" I don't want to go through the trees, I want to go over the trees" lol
Great to see all your videos. In 1964 I worked as a ground crew in support of Ag work with DH Chipmunks here in England. 70 gal loads, fluorescent markers in field with repeater coloured beads in cockpit. No radios or phones. Village phone boxes and 1 inch to the mile maps. Selected bases away by 30 seconds on any field in a Ford van at 30 mph for a grass strip with 100 yards clear either end. Put the windsock up and hand signals! Great to see all the technology now.
Wow how it’s changed is crazy.
Thanks for sharing this, its very interesting, theres a lot to do in the `office`!
Thanks for watching.
I live in Corpus Christi in a neighborhood very close to where you have sprayed and it was a real pleasure watching you work from the top of my fence. My daughter really enjoyed watching as well. Great flying!
Thanks for watching.
Excellent, excellent video..
Nicely done!!
Question: does ur bank angle change in ur turns as weight decreases? What is ur max bank?
And how much flap do u use? Are they electric? I dont see ur hand moving..
Ok ,,its a bunch a questions!!
Keep safe..
Thanks for watching. Yes as I decrease weight I will make steeper turns. I don’t have anything that tells me my bank angle so I’m not sure what it is. My flap switch is located on my stick and it runs an electric motor.
I bought a ‘47 Stinson 108-1 from one of the engineers who worked for Air Tractor in Olney, Texas. I was given a tour of the facility. I respect the design philosophies which the company builds its aircraft. I was told, as we all know, there must be certain elements present to create a fire. First there must be oxygen. Second there must be a fuel source and third there must be a source of ignition. There is little one can do about oxygen but you can certainly keep the fuel away from the ignition source. Air Tractor makes sure all of the fuel lines and oil lines are routed on opposite sides of the aircraft. Ag planes do crash. It is the nature and risk of the business but at the time of my visit which was 20 years ago, there had not been an Air Tractor which had crashed and burned. Impressive.
Unfortunately accidents happen and you can’t mitigate every risk. Last year we lost two pilots to post crash fires in their air tractors. But we all understand the risks.
@@AgAviationAdventures I wonder if the switch to turbofans increased the risk of fire. Never the less I enjoyed your video. I was taught by a crop duster the ins and outs of low level flight. I never flew an air tractor but have some time in a banner tow Pawnee set up. Still makes me smile to think about it.
I have time towing banners as well in a Pawnee! Appreciate you watching.
Really good video!! Very much enjoyed. Do you have any Thrush or Ag-Cat time, and if so, which is your favorite airframe? Thanks.
Thanks Scotabot! I flew a radial Thrush my first season and then spent two seasons in a Garrett Thrush. They both have their pros and cons but I'm just used to the Air Tractor now.
Yes 100% this is the best flying video ever. That 360 degree camera is just a whole other level. Amazing! Such skill.
Thanks for watching!
Outstanding video! Your videos always interest me to no end. i have one question. When you are so close to the ground, do you feel a buffer under the wings. In other words can you feel it cushioning you underneath especially as you are goin in to start each pass? This is so fascinating that i could ask a 1000 questions. I'm in my 50s but always turn into a little kid each time i see an ag pilot runnin. Thanks and keep putting out great content!
We appreciate you watching. I don’t feel any kind of buffer like you’d maybe expect to find in ground effect.
Nicely done from start to finish. Thank you for such a great video!
Thanks you for watching!
Hey Tyson and Cally good job on the Video keep it up ✈️ Turn n Burn baby!!
Thanks! Appreciate you watching.
This is something I really want to do! Always been so amazed and hope I can find my way into the flying world, just incredible! Here to learn and thanks for the amazing vid! Definitely following
We appreciate you being here! And good luck on your journey, hopefully you find these videos inspiring and fun.
Great video Tyson! Appreciate all the information. Do you actually run the tank dry or do you just estimate when you can’t make a full pass, then reload? On ground rigs, we use a flow meter to tell us how much is left in the tank and can refill at the end of the pass instead of getting halfway through then running out. Also, I assume the pump is a centrifugal pump? Is there an electrical brake that stops the little propeller from spinning the pump when the tank is empty? I’m an ag guy that sprays with ground rigs, so interested in how your application compares to ground. I’m also a PPL so very impressed with your skills. Keep the great videos coming!
Thanks for watching Monte. I try not to run it dry because what is coming out of the booms is also what lubricates the pump. I have an electric brake on it so when it gets to about 5 gallons I head back. If I stop in the middle of a pass I can see on my GPS screen where to start spraying again. The pump is the small piece under the airplane with the black blades. It's driven by the air moving over it.
Cool video thanks I was scrolling looking to see if anyone commented on the pump underneath. Thanks for the info.
Nice video!! l grew up watching Stearmans spraying cotton fields in west Texas in the early 60's. My older brother was a flagman for a spraying service back then. Thanks for the ride along!!
Thanks for watching!
Man you fly so low!!!! I just took my intro flight today, so this is incredibly impressive to me! It must have been hard to get used to how close the ground is 😆
Every season it takes me a little time to get comfortable.
My brother in law used to do this for living. One plane went down in a field of peas catching the gear and sucked in. Another time had landed taxing when a pickup crossed the airstrip in front of him. Crashed into the side of the truck. Flipped the plane over. It was when he released the harness is when he got a little hurt. Not thinking smelling fuel wanting to exit now. It was after that he changed careers to medicine. He did a mock run with me as if doing a field. You are busy as described here. What the camera doesn't show is the feel of the plane pulling up over trees pivoting a wing over slipping through the air with pretty good g forces. Incredible rush.
Man glad he was okay! Sounds like an exciting career while he was in it.
So when you're spraying, you're flying in ground effect?
Yeah
Awesome job best crop-dusting video I've seen. Used to spray cotton and lettuce in Arizona in a Cessna 188.
Thanks so much!! We were just down visiting an operation in Yuma. Keep an eye out for our next video!
Great video like always, keep it up👌
Appreciate you watching Ben.
Bro! You ROCK the mustache! You're a great pilot as well.
Haha it makes an appearance every once and awhile!
Watch sky tractors fly over my
area all the time. Love there ability.
Definitely!
Oh that ground comes up quick..superb footage thanks
Yes sometimes it does. Thanks for watching.
Just curious about the flaps during turns, are they automatic or completely manual?
They are electric. I have a button on the stick that I push that actuates them.
@@AgAviationAdventures but you set the flap level manually?
@@slkgeothermal what did he just say?
@@slkgeothermal Don't mind Chris, I don't think he understood your question. The flaps themselves have no set positions, it's just a switch that you hold until you get to whatever setting you want. There are enough left hand levers in the cockpit without adding another one for flaps, and seeing as how the flaps are pretty huge it would take considerable effort to physically deploy them, so using electric flaps with a switch was the best (probably only) choice. There are no degree stops beyond a mark or two on the left flap itself to give you an idea of where they're at. It's a better fit for ag because there are dozens of factors that change how much flap you need, and it changes with nearly every turn, so choosing between three or four positions would only fit a handful of scenarios and be somewhat of a detriment the rest of the time. If you look closely, you'll also notice that the ailerons droop with the flaps at roughly a 50% rate, so any time you have your flaps down, your ailerons are contributing a bit of lift too. Drooped ailerons get stick heavy the further down they go, they require more rudder to counteract adverse yaw, and the roll rate goes down too...so ideally you only use flaps after you've set the turn up and roll into the bank you want, not before.
Bloody amazing. I've only got 1600 hrs or so, but mostly in taildraggers. Used to fly Tiger Moths down here in Australia. The only time we'd get that low is on departure or approach - you guys have nerves of steel!
Thanks for watching Jimmy.
Awesome video! Hopefully get to do this one day. I noticed, do you adjust your power at all during your turns between rows, and what do you normally keep your throttle at on a normal pass?
Thanks for watching Jack. I don’t adjust power and it’s usually at about 16.
I gotta admit, I’m kinda glad there’s not an easier way to do this. So cool to watch.
Appreciate you watching.
19:24 smoothest transition in youtube history.
😂
Had to watch twice that was smooth good call!
Always admired the skill of these pilots.
Thanks!!
It's just amazing that plane can even take off with the size of balls he is packing.....
😂
Thanks for showing us what goes on in the cockpit .... never a chance to take a mental break in there.
Thanks for watching.
Grew up on a farm. Always enjoyed watching the crop dusters. No turbines back in those days. Some real skills needed.
Great video
Thanks for watching Jack.
Elite pilot. Fun to watch. Thanks
Thanks for watching!
Well made tutorial on flight mechanics and weight, wind direction, and other considerations.
Thanks Doug.
What you have just watched is the reason there are damn few old crop dusters. These guys are a special breed, harkening back to the old days of aviation. Absolutely terrifying. And precision flying. Incredible skills.
Thanks for watching Joseph.
they died early from poisons they were spraying
thats some flying out there .....love it!! and thanks that i could ride along! greetings frome the Netherlands.
Thanks for watching!
I usually stop on HWY 99 in Corvallis and watch the crop dusting.
Always in awe of that guy.
Thanks for watching.
Making a very dangerous job look, as a mundane effort is the mark of a skilled professional whether it be a pro dirt track motorcycle racer or skilled ag pilot. Great job of flying and explaining your field passes.
Thanks for watching Jack.
I watch these guys every year spray fields around my house, they have balls of steel
Appreciate you watching.
How cool. I lived and worked in the San Joaquin Valley for many years. Always loved watching the Ag Pilots. Now we’re up by Sequoia in 3 Rivers. It’s all about Helicopters here. (And Fire Bombers) Those guys “Clink” when they walk. Great Video Cheers!
That’s great! Definitely lots of helicopters there.
Love the video. So very informative about the actual spraying process. Loved seeing you use the flaps while turning....I'm assuming to tighten your turn radius?
Thanks for watching! Yes they tighten the turn and provide a little extra lift.
I remember when we were kids that was a blast watching them dust a field. As long as he was flying we was watching. Be safe, great video!
Thanks for watching!
Thats a great stash and solid work with your stick.
Thank you!!