1970s AERIAL AGRICULTURAL AIRCRAFT  - 2

More of my photographs of Austrealian aerial ag aircraft

Heavy metal of the 1970s were the big Snow S2D Commander 600s, with 600hp P&W R-1340 Wasp radial engines.
Here's Central Aerial Services' VH-AGT on the red soil of Emerald Qld in June 1975

Snow S2D VH-SND at Ag-Av's own ag strip near Emerald Qld in April 1978.
This model does not have a rear window for the loader-driver's seat behind the pilot

Fletcher Fu24 VH-CYT of Air Culture, Perth seen at Bunbury WA in January 1970

Cropcair Aviation's Grumman G164A Agcat VH-PUV at Mackay Qld in August 1974.
It was wrekced in a crash near Mackay three months later

A slump in demand for aerial agriculture in the late 1960s resulted in some ag Beavers being redeployed on other work.
All orange Beaver VH-IDH seen at Kalgoorlie WA in October 1970 was fitted for mineral survey by McPhar Geophysics,
trailing a magnetometer "bird" from under the belly

Flash-back 6 years: VH-IDH at Moorabbin in May 1964 as a duster with Super Spread Aviation.
It was later used by Robbys Aerial Services at Parafield SA before being fitted for aerial survey
The Piper PA-25 Pawnee 235 was one of the most popular agricultural aircraft types in Australia during the 1960s-1970s.
VH-BJF of John Forrest Pty Ltd was at home base Carnamah WA in June 1970. White with red trim

Farmair Pty Ltd, Perth based its two Pawnee 235s VH-FBJ & FBN on a farm at Pithara WA, where they were photographed in June 1970

VH-FBN at Kununurra WA in the far north of WA in January 1979, now fitted with the curved-down wingtip kit

The earlier Pawnee 150 model had a shorter nose. VH-DAU of Doggett Aviation, Perth seen at Northam WA in May 1970

This pair of former Bob Couper Co Pawnee 150s VH-BTY & VH-MEQ were at Muckinbudin WA in April 1975.
Both were 1960 models, painted orange and white

Bob Couper Co based at Cunderdin WA was one of the earliest aerial ag operators in WA in the early 1950s.
Pawnee 235 VH-BCK was at Bunbury WA in January 1970.  White and blue

In March 1976 VH-BCK headed this line-up of Lloyd Aviation Pawnees which flew a formation display at an airshow at Parafield SA.
It has been fitted with the curved-down wingtip mod to improve performance

The same Pawnee back in WA again in June 1977, at Wagin WA owned by Wagin Aero Spray


Ian Dunn of Dunn's Aviation, Ballidu WA imported these three used Pawnee 235s from New Zealand in 1975.
They are seen at Jandakot Airport, Perth in April 1975 immediately after uncrating and assembly.
ZK-CEN, ZK-CNA, ZK-CID became VH-CPV, -CPU & -CPT respectively


VH-CPV (ex ZK-CEN) was in service as a sprayer with Dunn's Aviation at Ballidu WA in August 1975
A drop-in at Ingham Qld to visit Ted Blanch was always enjoyable. Ted's hospitality to travelling aircraft enthusiasts extended to
calling impromptu tea breaks to chat with his pilots and engineers. Blanch Air Services dusts and sprays sugar cane crops in the district.
Late model Pawnee 235D VH-CCS at Ingham April 1978.
Commercial Cane Sugar is the industry measure of sugar recoverable from the cane

Blanch's Pawnee 235 VH-IGM had as its registration the aeronautical abbreviation for Ingham (IGM). Seen there in April 1978


View from our car window ten miles down the road after visiting Ted Blanch.  A Far North Queensland farewell.
One of his friendly pilots spotted us on the highway and diverted from sugar cane dusting to dust us as well!

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