Releasing insects from a plane
I suspect a design complication might be a requirement for an even metered distribution of the insects along a flight path. So suggested venturi type sucking out of a box might not be fit for purpose after all.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Perth
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G'day SITplus,
I have a passerby level of knowledge of your existing system having seen it on the ramp with a blocked mess, didn't know whether to laugh or cry, neither did the young pilot.
My first thought was why not simply use an Ag aircraft but the low quantity and low volume output would be problematic, however a system that could be secured in the clean hopper of an Ag machine overcomes all your compliance issues in one move.
I also thought venturi system but that is sort of what you had with a 45 degree cut 100mm pvc pipe through the belly (did I get that right?) which seemed to have its own blockage issues.
If you want to "push" them out of an open door then you do really need to get the final opening out and slightly down stream otherwise turbulent eddies will bring them back on board.
In my mind a type of system could be along the following lines;
50mm SS pipe with a rubber fluted auger, ordinary insertion rubber strip will do it, helixed around a steel or alloy shaft with a machine cut slot to the shaft to form the helix and insert/hold the insertion rubber. The rubber auger flutes seal against the ID of the 50mm pipe so no leakage.
A self contained battery pack/electric motor to drive the auger, you won't need much power. The pitch of the auger flutes and the ability to adjust the rotation speed which would likely be quite slow would determine the output rate.
Do away with the esky as a container box and return it to its correct purpose of keeping beer cool and design a box with a slopping base to ensure all the flies feed to the base and to the pick up point of the auger.
Back to the Ag aircraft, their hoppers typically have a 100mm ram pressure tube to positively pressurize the hopper, if the system were mounted in the hopper and there are usually mounting points already in there that can assist with mounting. Then the pilot could set the hopper base opening ~25mm open such that the flies that came out of the auger opening would be carried out the bottom of the hopper due to the positive airflow. Obviously given the many products carried in Ag aircraft hoppers which are not conducive to the health of small flying insects might be of in initial concern however hoppers can and are often decontaminated so shouldn't be an issue.
If you would rather use a 206 an operator with an Ag AOC overcomes many compliance issues otherwise it's a matter of demonstrating to CASA the system is safe and obtain the required exemptions for dispensing from an aircraft, not overly hard.
Given the amount of money invested in the program and the industry at stake 5 or 10k to make a dedicated system is reasonable.
Hope there is something in there that might help.
I have a passerby level of knowledge of your existing system having seen it on the ramp with a blocked mess, didn't know whether to laugh or cry, neither did the young pilot.
My first thought was why not simply use an Ag aircraft but the low quantity and low volume output would be problematic, however a system that could be secured in the clean hopper of an Ag machine overcomes all your compliance issues in one move.
I also thought venturi system but that is sort of what you had with a 45 degree cut 100mm pvc pipe through the belly (did I get that right?) which seemed to have its own blockage issues.
If you want to "push" them out of an open door then you do really need to get the final opening out and slightly down stream otherwise turbulent eddies will bring them back on board.
In my mind a type of system could be along the following lines;
50mm SS pipe with a rubber fluted auger, ordinary insertion rubber strip will do it, helixed around a steel or alloy shaft with a machine cut slot to the shaft to form the helix and insert/hold the insertion rubber. The rubber auger flutes seal against the ID of the 50mm pipe so no leakage.
A self contained battery pack/electric motor to drive the auger, you won't need much power. The pitch of the auger flutes and the ability to adjust the rotation speed which would likely be quite slow would determine the output rate.
Do away with the esky as a container box and return it to its correct purpose of keeping beer cool and design a box with a slopping base to ensure all the flies feed to the base and to the pick up point of the auger.
Back to the Ag aircraft, their hoppers typically have a 100mm ram pressure tube to positively pressurize the hopper, if the system were mounted in the hopper and there are usually mounting points already in there that can assist with mounting. Then the pilot could set the hopper base opening ~25mm open such that the flies that came out of the auger opening would be carried out the bottom of the hopper due to the positive airflow. Obviously given the many products carried in Ag aircraft hoppers which are not conducive to the health of small flying insects might be of in initial concern however hoppers can and are often decontaminated so shouldn't be an issue.
If you would rather use a 206 an operator with an Ag AOC overcomes many compliance issues otherwise it's a matter of demonstrating to CASA the system is safe and obtain the required exemptions for dispensing from an aircraft, not overly hard.
Given the amount of money invested in the program and the industry at stake 5 or 10k to make a dedicated system is reasonable.
Hope there is something in there that might help.
