This is not directed at TET or Rotorhead84 in particular, just a saying I like to remind myself of occassionally which came to mind after reading through this thread - "The problem with young people is they think that intelligence is a substitute for experience, & the problem older people is they think experience is a substitute for intelligence".

Matt, congrats on your job. Sounds like you are off to a great start. You have a good attitude and are willing to listen. Get yourself a helmet before the season starts even if it's an old motorcycle helmet. Trust me, you need one. If you need to talk or need some advice, PM me.
barryb

BTW, gooding looking bird. I had the first Satloc in La way back when. Using the M3 now with the same "ark" light bar.

austin19
Zebedee's post is how I remember it. Chemical soaked protective gloves, overalls & boots and living out of a duffle bag are not glamourous as far as I'm concerned. Long days no creature comforts and often no sustenance during the day. Back to the pub at night on an empty stomach and horizontal by the third pot. Sun rises a few hours later and do it all again. There is much to be learned about aircraft handling but it is not the life for everyone, I assure you.

Anybody ever seen this video? Not me of course as I do not work in Indiana. I've never seen these types of Ag turns utilized. Anybody else fly like this? Seems to be more stress on the aircraft than necessary for the work. I'm probably way wrong about that, I was taught to be as easy on the aircraft as possible, especially when loaded and turning. Only be as aggressive as necessary to clear the biggest obstacle and nothing more. I was also taught to gain as much altitude as your entry airspeed will allow before sliding back the other way. This video seems to be the exact opposite as I was taught. Cool video either way.

YouTube - helicopter crop dusting.

Surprised it is economic to use a helicopter when the terrain is so flat and vehicle accessible. Down here they'd be using a tractor towing a trailer mounted tank and sprayer. Slower but you'd get a whole field done without reloading and tractors don't cost much to run.

Tractors are slow and cumbersome. Field conditions or wind usually keep them out 50% of the time when you're ready to go or they'll mess up the row crops. So if you farm 1500ac you won't be able to get all your fields done during your windows for treatment (varies from a few days to a week where I am from). A spray rig costs 300k. For that price + the cost of an ag kit, you could buy an OH-58 and be able to work 2000+ acres per day. So most farmers just hire somebody to do it. For as much as they pull in for crop, its just a drop in the bucket.

Hey rotorhead, why don't you put back up those still photos you had. The guy in this ship looks mighty like you. so does the ground rig look identical.

Is it the fashionable attire that makes you think I have aged 10 years and moved to indiana? :O

Ill get the photos back up. I didn't realize I had killed the links when I re-organized my photo hosting service. My aplogies.

The ground rig looks much different than what we've got as well.

Just Found One
 

Was just searching for crop spraying videos and found a good one on this guys website :sad: Apex Helicopter Inc - Home its worth a watch if like helicopter crop spraying videos.

Heli A1 Commercial & Agricultural Helicopter Service, Waikato, NZ

Video:

Braken Spraying 2012
 

Hi Dennis,

I'm looking to start a Braken spraying business up in Scotland and have been reading your posts with interest. Do you have any advice for me, any contacts in the industry or any further information that you would consider to be useful? I have contacts in New Zealand where the current competition comes over from to complete the requirements. I would very much appreciate your thoughts - you seem to be the leading SME on the subject. Please get in touch and we can have a chat over this forum initially if you are comfortable. Look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards,

2054

Caterpillar Spraying
 

Caterpillar Spraying in the UK:
Pest caterpillar helicopter spraying goes ahead despite local residents' concerns | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Just a general message really, I'm a fixed wing pilot from Sussex (UK) and now working for one of the largest aerial fire fighting and ag flying operations in Australia. My point is if you really really want to get into this work it is possible but you got to move around. To get experience I have been a pilot in NZ, Africa (piston bush flying) and on floats in Australia ( piston and turbine). And now I am the new kid in ag and I'm mid thirties.

There is still work in various places throughout the world, lots in Africa certainly for fixed wing, I guess also helicopter.

So my point is I grew up in Sussex used to watch the planes flying into Gatwick had my first lessons at Redhill and gained my ppl there. And now I am starting my career in ag in Australia. It is still possible but its going to take allot of effort.

Have really enjoyed the thread, used to work for London helicopters on the spanners by the way.

Dream big and dare to fail.

Crop Spraying/Dusting Questions
 

I was wondering if anyone currently does this and if so could you help me learn more about the industry? I have a friend that is looking into doing it for his own farm but I don't know what the best aircraft is or really anything about it. Any information would be much appreciated. Thanks

Jared: There are many outfits still engaged in spraying.

I suggest you browse a couple of the spray company websites to gain some basic information and then contact one or two of them with your enquiry. They will immediately ask what type of crop you have, what it is you want to apply and the size and basic layout of the area involved.

Here are a couple you can start with:

Apex Helicopter Inc - Home

Home | Applebee Aviation

Helicopter Air Services

Welcome to Lohman Helicopter

http://www.sintonhelicopters.com/

You can also try: National Agricultural Aviation Association

I think you will find that any of these people will be willing to speak with you and provide basic information and if you can find an operator near your farm they may even come over and discuss your requirement.

Crop Spraying
 

Jared
I am currently spraying in Canada, for conifer release for forestry. We were doing Ag a month or so back. We are using 2 Longrangers and a AS350B2. Next season we plan to add our B3's also. What do you need to know. Fire me a pm and will try to answer your questions.

Newfie

I spent the spring spraying herbicide on to grazing land in Oklahoma and Texas, then moved onto spraying mesquite. There is a chance that in the not too distant future we may start defoliating cotton. We used an R44, which although not my favorite machine for the job done.

Feel free to drop me a line with any questions.

One of the more informative spraying videos that I've seen in recent times:


Some 'classic' American accents in there too!

Hillers and Bananas.
Panama / Dominican Republic, early sixties.

At least they all looked survivable!

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...ndBananas3.jpg

Early's 60's indeed.

The Hiller 12-A (bottom right) G-AMDN, began life with 'Pest Control' services at Bourn Airfield in Cambridge in 1950. The craft was then registered to 'Fison Airwork' at the same location before Fison was bought (I think) by Airwork Helicopters at Redhill in 1960. In 1961 she was registered to Bristows.