Agricultural aircraft
From Freepedia
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An agricultural aircraft is an aircraft that has been built or converted for agricultural use -- usually aerial application of pesticides (crop dusting) or fertiliser, (Aerial topdressing); in this role they are referred to as "top dressers" or "crop dusters." Agricultural aircraft are also used for hydroseeding. The most common agricultural aircraft are fixed-wing, such as the Grumman Ag Cat, PAC Cresco, or Rockwell Thrush Commander but helicopters are also used. Autogyros have been tested for aerial application as well. The first widely used agricultural aircraft were converted war surplus biplanes, such as the De Havilland Tiger Moth and Stearman. After more effective insecticides and fungicides were developed in the 1940s, and topdressing was developed by government research in New Zealand, a large number of purpose-built agricultural fixed-wing aircraft appeared. In the US and Europe they are typically small, simple, and rugged. Many have spraying systems built into their wings, and pumps are usually driven by wind turbines. In places where farms are larger, such as New Zealand, Australia, the former Warsaw pact nations and parts of the developing world, larger and more powerful aircraft have been used, including twin engined types, varying from the versatile and utilitarian Antonov An-2 to the bizzare turbofan powered biplane, the WSK-Mielec M-15 Belphegor- all however tend to be of simple rugged STOL design. In places where dedicated use as an agricultural aircraft is uneconomic, ultility types such as the De Havillland Canada DHC2 Beaver have been used. In the case of helicopters, tanks are placed on or outside the body of the aircraft, while a spray rig, extending outward to the sides, is attached well below the main rotor blades. Hydroseeding is often done by helicopters using tanks and drop systems much like those used for aerial firefighting. See also
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