Ag nostalgia
Hi all ... this thread gets better and better, but surprised that my boss's old firm of Spoonair Ag Services hasn't been listed. (circa 1977-1980.) Also just love the occasionally forgotten 'names' that crop up (no pun intended) . At its most active the Spoonair business employed three Enstrom 28C turbo models on cereal work, bracken and the ever present spuds! Maneb was the order of the day for those I seem to recall. Then some fiery stuff for Septoria and 'Rincosporium' ... have I got that right? We also did a bit of stubble turnip seeding.
The company had some some good contracts with Boots, ICI (Plant protection) and local farmers. Two of our pilots were ex NZ guys being David Cook and Derek Alexander. The pair of them would whip through anything up to 100 acres an hour. (£4 an acre was the going rate then.) Paul Manning was our specialist Ag man. I'm hoping Savoia will get two or three pics of self at work using the Enstrom on hillside bracken while pulling some huge blade-tip vortices. I can remember Ray Peel at $$$ who was always very helpful to us as newcomers. Was Brian Izzard our Chief Ag pilot? Sorry guys ... the memories fade these days. BW to all. Dennis K.