A look back at 2001

The last piece of the puzzle fits together in a year such as no one would have ever dreamed would come to pass. One thing is for certain, there is no doubt in the minds of all Americans, the definition of a "crop duster". One of next year's goals should be to promote our image and try to make the most of the publicity our industry has received during the tail end of 2001. 2001 started with a cover story in AgAir Update's January edition telling of an Ag Cat pilot reminiscing about helping out a friend by flying his AT-301. February's edition is more eerie, with a photo from the cockpit of Mike Schiffer's AT-502 overflying the "capital" building of Madison, Wisconsin and not the deceptive looking "capitol" building of Washington, DC. Capital or capitol, a quick lesson in English grammar, that hardly matters, as it is unlikely an ag aircraft will be able to fly over such institutions, at least not in the short term. The March edition provides an insight into a pair of turbine-powered Piper Braves. One has a PT6A-20 engine, while its look alike has the Garrett Pre-Century engine. Oddly enough, these two aircraft operate within 20 miles of each other.

After a visit to South America, April's AgAir Update relates a story on one of the country's more progressive operations, Luis Cura's Fumigaciones AŽreas, located in the northern regions of Argentina. Luis expanded his business from Pawnees to three Turbine Thrush with the advent of more cotton acreage. Now, cotton prices are down and planting is less, but the Cura operation looks for other opportunities to continue successfully.

Ag aviation operators always have been an innovative bunch. In May's edition, a visit to Riddell's Flying Service in West Helena, Arkansas reveals the installation and final engineering for the conversion of a massive DC-3's Hamilton Standard propeller for its R-1820 engines onto a PZL 1,000 horsepower engine mounted on an M-18 Dromader.

Summertime is in full swing, ag planes are flying nationwide in June, when AgAir Update features a couple of Texas operators who have bought 26 Air Tractors and still counting. The Kubecka brothers have owned just about every type Air Tractor built, including the AT-250 through the AT-802. Texas gets more recognition with the July edition, when AgAir Update features "Three Amigos in west Texas". Here, separate operators working from the same public airport work hand-in-hand to help each other, setting an example for all ag operators worldwide.

Bringing the summer to a close, AgAir Update flies an AT-401 in August that has had its radial engine converted to a Walter engine by Cascade Flying Service of Garfield, Washington. The aircraft performed well and gives ag pilots one more choice in ag aircraft.

AgAir Update's September cover features another Ag Cat, but this time with a turbine engine flying over the spray pattern evaluation string in California. Data from these flights appear to indicate the Ag Cat has more of a swath width than thought by many mono wing pilots. But, more importantly, the CaAAA and California operators are demonstrating their professionalism to regulators. For the October edition, New Zealand's Wings magazine sends AgAir Update an article about an engine conversion on a DownUnder-specific ag plane, the Fletcher with a Ford V-8 motor. It never seems to end, the creativity of ag pilots and operators trying to find the magical airframe and engine combination. Each mission demands its own work horse. There does not seem to be a one-size-fits-all combo. The industry will most likely continue to search.

For the second time in 2001, the M-18 Dromader graces the cover of AgAir Update, in the November edition with a TPE331-10 engine installed. Bill Hubler of Valley Air Service and Ag Air Systems work together to take a proven engine conversion for the Honeywell turboprop engine on the Ayres Thrush and retrofits it to the M-18. By all accounts, the conversion is a success, providing yet another combination of engine and airframe for the ag operator.

2001 comes to a close, with AgAir Update's December cover depicting the pieces of a puzzle with the America flag in the center. Take note, the pieces are altogether, just like America and ag aviation remains to be together, looking forward to 2002. A look back at 2001 asks many questions about the future. However, one can't help but believe the future will be better and more progressive. With the innovative abilities of this industry and the hard working souls who make it viable, ag aviation can survive just about anything that comes along its way.Ê