1980s AERIAL AGRICULTURAL AIRCRAFT - Part 1

A selection of my photographs of the hard-working Australian aerial agricultural fleet

            Ayres AT-301 Air Tractors VH-ODB and VH-ODM at Tintinara SA in May 1989
Designed by Leland P. Snow, the AT-302 designation indicates 320 gallon hopper and P&W R-1340 radial engine


                Australian agent for the Air Tractor line was Field Air at Ballarat Vic, where AT-301 VH-FAQ is seen in May 1981

                              Two years later in  May 1983 VH-FAQ was at Parafield SA as a sprayer with local operator Crowthair

                                        AT-301 VH-FAA without engine cowlings, having a hose-down at Finley NSW in September 1984
                                       Wagin Aero Spray's AT-301 VH-WWA at Kojonup WA in September 1980

              Later model AT-301 VH-JFA with 3 bladed propeller and no dorsal fin, at Ballarat Vic in February 1987 with Field Air

                               The much enlarged Air Tractor AT-502 featured 500 gallon hopper and PT-6A turbine engine.
             AT-502 VH-ODP at Field Air at Ballarat 11 November 1989, being prepared for delivery that afternoon to Tintinara SA
The successful Air Tractor range evolved from earlier agricultural models designed by Leland P. Snow. Here are some of those designs:

                  Rockwell S-2R Thrush VH-TXZ at Geraldton WA in August 1987 with local operator Symes Brothers Aerial Spraying

Ayers S-2R VH-WBU at Ballidu WA in March 1981 with Dunn's Aviation, previously named Wongan-Ballidu Aviation

Dunn's Aviation made the move to turbines early, with Ayers S2R-T34 Turbo Thrush VH-DUN, seen at Ballidu in August 1982

Ayers S2R-T15 Turbo Thrush VH-IWI at Perth Airport  in May 1986 while owned by Dunn's Aviation at Ballidu WA
                                               Now back to other aerial agricutural aircraft, starting with Cessnas:


Cessna 180D VH-PHS at Derinallum Vic in December 1989 was used for field maintenance by ag operator Western Aerial

The Cessna 188 AGwagon series saw widespread use across Australia.  A188B VH-BOA at Moora WA in September 1985

Cessna A188B VH-SUA at Wagin WA in August 1980 was owned by Bunbury Aerial Topdressing Service

Cessna A188B VH-EJT at Wagin WA in September 1986, owned by Giles Aviation of Wagin

Cessna A188B VH-TUN at Dowerin WA in September 1985 was based here with Wheat Belt Sprayers

Cessna A188B VH-ICA at Northam WA in September 1985 with Ian Chambers Aviation

Cessna A188B ZK-DOY at Perth-Jandakot WA in April 1980 was one of a pair imported from NZ by Ian Dunn.
It became VH-DUJ and ZK-BMC became VH-DUQ both with Dunn's Aviation at Ballidu WA

VH-DUJ at Ballidu WA in August 1982


Cessna A188B VH-DUQ formerly ZK-BMC at Ballidu WA in September 1985

Cessna A188B VH-MXH at Ballidu WA in September 1985 with Dunn's Aviation

Cessna A188B VH-EYN at Ballidu in August 1987 owned by Dunn's, but retained the name of its previous WA operator

Cessna A188B VH-AGD at Ballidu WA in August 1987 with Dunn's Aviation

Cessna A188B VH-UGA at Albury NSW in September 1985 in service with Hazair Air Services (Albury) Pty Ltd

This original Cessna A188 AGwagon VH-KVI was among the first in Australia in 1967. Cudal NSW September 1984

Cessna A188B VH-ESB at Cudal NSW in September 1984, the home base of Hazelton Air Services
 

VH-SSY was one of the few Australian-built CA-28 Ceres still flying by 1988.  This former Super Spread Aviation cropduster
was now owned by Air World museum at Wangaratta Vic and seen visiting an airshow at Richmond NSW in October 1988

IMCO CallAir A-9A VH-MPG at Cunderdin WA in September 1985 in service as a sprayer

A year later VH-MPG had been sold and was towing advertising banners along Perth beaches.  Jandakot October 1986

CallAir A-9A VH-MPU at Ballidu WA in August 1987 with Dunn's Aviation. It had been built as an A-9B model.

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