Air Tractor
Encyclopedia
Air Tractor Inc. is a United States
aircraft manufacturer based in Olney, Texas
. Leland Snow founded the company in 1978
in order to manufacture a new agricultural aircraft
derived from the S-2B
aircraft (designed by his previous company Snow Aeronautical
). Designated Model AT-300 Air Tractor, the new aircraft first flew in 1973. In 2004 the 2000th Air Tractor aircraft was delivered.
until 1957. He followed-up the S-1 with the models S-2A and S-2B, which were built when Snow moved to production facilities in Olney, Texas in 1958.
In 1965, Leland Snow sold his company to Rockwell-Standard and was appointed a Vice President of the Aero Commander division. During this time, the Model S-2R was developed and named the Thrush. The first 100 Thrush aircraft were built at the Olney Division before the plant was closed and Thrush production moved to Georgia
in 1970. More than 500 aircraft were produced under Snow Aeronautical Corporation and Rockwell-Standard in Olney.
Snow resigned from Rockwell and devoted the next two years designing the Air Tractor. Construction began in 1972 on the AT-300, which later became the AT-301. Air Tractor’s first turbine model, the AT-302, was introduced in 1977.
Sixteen years later, Air Tractor delivered its 1,100th airplane and soon began expanding the Olney plant for increased capacity. Today, Air Tractor produces a line of aircraft that includes 400, 500, 600 and 800-gallon capacity planes powered by Pratt & Whitney
piston or turbine engines.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aircraft manufacturer based in Olney, Texas
Olney, Texas
Olney is a city in Young County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,236 in 2008.-Geography:Olney is located at ....
. Leland Snow founded the company in 1978
1978 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1978:-January:* January 1 – British Aircraft Corporation, Hawker Siddeley, and Scottish Aviation are absorbed into British Aerospace...
in order to manufacture a new agricultural aircraft
Agricultural aircraft
An agricultural aircraft is an aircraft that has been built or converted for agricultural use - usually aerial application of pesticides or fertilizer ; in these roles they are referred to as "crop dusters" or "top dressers"...
derived from the S-2B
Ayres Thrush
-See also:-Bibliography:* Green, William. Aircraft Handbook. London. Macdonald & Co. Ltd., 1964.* Simpson, Rod. The General Aviation Handbook. Midland Publishing. 2005. ISBN 1-85780-222-5....
aircraft (designed by his previous company Snow Aeronautical
Snow Aeronautical
Snow Aeronautical was a US aircraft manufacturer, established in 1955 in Olney, Texas by Leland Snow to manufacture and market agricultural aircraft of his design...
). Designated Model AT-300 Air Tractor, the new aircraft first flew in 1973. In 2004 the 2000th Air Tractor aircraft was delivered.
History
Leland Snow began designing his first airplane, the S-1, in 1951. The 23-year old Snow completed test flights with the S-1 in 1953. Snow’s S-1 flew dusting and spraying jobs in the Texas Rio Grande Valley and in NicaraguaNicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
until 1957. He followed-up the S-1 with the models S-2A and S-2B, which were built when Snow moved to production facilities in Olney, Texas in 1958.
In 1965, Leland Snow sold his company to Rockwell-Standard and was appointed a Vice President of the Aero Commander division. During this time, the Model S-2R was developed and named the Thrush. The first 100 Thrush aircraft were built at the Olney Division before the plant was closed and Thrush production moved to Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in 1970. More than 500 aircraft were produced under Snow Aeronautical Corporation and Rockwell-Standard in Olney.
Snow resigned from Rockwell and devoted the next two years designing the Air Tractor. Construction began in 1972 on the AT-300, which later became the AT-301. Air Tractor’s first turbine model, the AT-302, was introduced in 1977.
Sixteen years later, Air Tractor delivered its 1,100th airplane and soon began expanding the Olney plant for increased capacity. Today, Air Tractor produces a line of aircraft that includes 400, 500, 600 and 800-gallon capacity planes powered by Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer with global service operations. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation . Pratt & Whitney's aircraft engines are widely used in both civil aviation and military aviation. Its headquarters are in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA...
piston or turbine engines.
Products
- Air Tractor AT-300Air Tractor AT-300|-See also:-External links:*...
(1973) single-seat low-wing monoplane aerial application aircraft with single radial piston engine - Air Tractor AT-301Air Tractor AT-300|-See also:-External links:*...
-300 variant with larger piston engine - Air Tractor AT-302Air Tractor AT-300|-See also:-External links:*...
-300 variant with turboprop engine - Air Tractor AT-400Air Tractor AT-400|- See also :- References :NotesBibliography...
(1979) development of -300, revised for use of turboprop engine - Air Tractor AT-401Air Tractor AT-400|- See also :- References :NotesBibliography...
-400 variant with greater wingspan - Air Tractor AT-402Air Tractor AT-400|- See also :- References :NotesBibliography...
-401 variant with different turboprop engine - Air Tractor AT-501Air Tractor AT-501|-See also:-External links:*AT-502 in Action at Milford, Nebraska...
(1986) development of -400 with larger fuselage and hopper, greater wingspan, and seat for an observer. Uses radial piston engine - Air Tractor AT-502Air Tractor AT-501|-See also:-External links:*AT-502 in Action at Milford, Nebraska...
Single-seat version of -501 - Air Tractor AT-503Air Tractor AT-501|-See also:-External links:*AT-502 in Action at Milford, Nebraska...
Development of -501 with turboprop engine - Air Tractor AT-503TAir Tractor AT-501|-See also:-External links:*AT-502 in Action at Milford, Nebraska...
Trainer variant of -503. Uses smaller wingspan - Air Tractor AT-504Air Tractor AT-501|-See also:-External links:*AT-502 in Action at Milford, Nebraska...
Trainer - Air Tractor AT-602Air Tractor AT-602|-See also:-References:* Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5....
(1995) Development of -503 with larger hopper and greater wingspan - Air Tractor AT-802Air Tractor AT-802|-Specifications :-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.* Keijsper, Gerard...
(1990) Development of -503 with larger hopper and greater wingspan, adapted for aerial firefighting. - Air Tractor AT-802U Adapted for Surveillance and military operations.