Cropdusting - How the lightbar works

We’re in Beautiful New Zealand on aerial topdressing operations.
Hop on board and join us as we go through the procedures used during a sortie.
We’ll take a closer look at the lightbar - a key instrument used on ag ops. It gives pilots the ability to apply fertiliser accurately and evenly across the ground.
10 points to any keen observer who can date this video to the nearest year. There’s a few clues that give it away ;-)
Jimbo 👌😎🤠

[@CillMhantainSean]

Duster pilots, the best pilots out there, no pissing around, no stupid mis-applications of flaps or power settings and trims, if these men get it wrong they die, I’ve witnessed these pilots at work dusting in landscapes littered with phone wires, Electricity cables, Coms towers and trees, just breathtaking to watch a professional skilled duster pilot at work….

[@louissteven8862]

Id prefer this to military flying probably, imagine flying some drab fly by wire ultra powered jet... not as fun

[@emergencylowmaneuvering7350]

​@@louissteven8862 jet fighter pilots have it lot easier except the rare they do high G turning discomfort. But they only do practice mostly every 2-3 days for a couple of hours a day only and with 10 people helping them before and during the flight. They dont even have to check the oils or clean the windshield. And with ejection seats and helicopters waiting for them in case they have to bail out. Easier and safer than Bush Pilots or Crop Dusters..

[@kerrytodd3753]

Excellent video!

[@gordongibson7137]

Thanks Jim. Fabulous, absolutely fabulous and much appreciated.

[@drumsandstix128]

Love it ! thanks....I enjoy your vids. I used to live in NZ ( many years ago) its so nice to see the beautiful countryside again

[@aorakiboydog]

Beats looking at the cocky’s farm photo in the lounge covered in fly dots.

[@JordanHourGlassDJ]

By far this is definitely the coolest cropdusting fpv pilot view I have ever seen! Cheers bro! Keep the blue side up! 😎🇺🇸🍻🇺🇸🍻🤙🏻⚡🔥

[@JimboBurgess]

Cheers mate, appreciate it! 😎

[@kiwioz01]

Awesome.remember as a kid watching local pilot crop duster do low low level dump. Inspired me to peruse being a pilot.

[@sophiasocal68]

Enjoyed this video. I'm just getting started AG flying in the US. Our lightbars are mounted way out on the nose of the airplane, noticed yours is much closer to the windscreen. Genius idea! Thanks for showing how it's done in NZ.

[@JimboBurgess]

Nice one, looks like some great flying to be had in the US. Yeah, I'm back mostly flying the AT now. The lightbars are internal, though I kinda prefer them out on the nose. All the best with your career 👍

[@Canberra67]

Great video, and excellent explanation of the lightbar symbology/codes for us dummies out there who wonder what it all means. :-)

[@theyoungbunch187]

That was a great explanation, thanks. Thoroughly enjoyed it as always.😀👍🏻

[@dutchygirl]

Nice video! Thanks for the advise keeping cloths on. Sounds like a great idea haha

[@PureGlide]

Awesome video, nicely narrated. The whole thing is similar to many of my glider flights. Similar altitudes, similar back and forwards (desperately searching for a thermal) and the same strips (when we don't find it!).

[@craiganderson412]

haha! another good clip Jimbo! I like your the reminder on the glare shield. A Trend a day keeps the engineers happy! I know that for sure. The PT6 is a great engine if it's compressor and comp turbine are looked after and kept clean. As you know, she'll keep you airborne way past her TBO if ya treat her with respect.

[@doctorpc4x4]

I do enjoy your videos

[@jacobsaviationnz8351]

Yesss another video!!!

[@jamesdehart5039]

Awesome!! 👍🙏🙏✈️

[@johnanderson690]

Were my best years flying. 50 plus years and mostly helicopters. F/wing top dressing and spraying the best!

[@gregwells8764]

Have always marvelled watching these machines being flown by crack pilots. growing up on a farm i got to see this up close a few times, but to see it from this angle is scary impressive indeed. the narrating is a real bonus, so laid back and with that awesome Kiwi humour. thank you sir. but tell me, is it always so smooth ? cheers xpat

[@JimboBurgess]

Cheers mate. I wish it was always this smooth!

[@sventistvan2023]

Great flying in that terrain.......haven’t got much time to pick your nose.....always constant!!

[@JimboBurgess]

Yet I still seem to do it 😉😆

[@FlingwingNZ]

@@JimboBurgess Lucky you're wearing a full coverall then too eh...

[@tekawarobb]

Super interesting, thanks Jimbo! Would be interested to get a taste for how you program the GPS system too - entering all the info into whatever the system is that runs your lightbar etc. Thanks so much for sharing these videos

[@JimboBurgess]

Cheers mate. Good idea, I'll be doing a video on just this in the very near future 😎

[@gordongibson7137]

From the time I was a young lad in the mid to late 60's i was obsessed with this job and lifestyle. Its literally all I wanted to do but in 1976 when it came time to begin the process, the old man - always a totally dominant entity - kaiboshed the whole thing and I had no wherewithall to combat the problem. We had a farm at Te Akau and I used to watch the operation before school whenever possible. Shall I run some names by you? Rex Nawalanietch (spelling a problem) Woolford (grumpy), Whetton, Mike Keane, and just before we sold, Kevin 'Butch' Erni. I did go on to get my commercial H and did over 9 years on the tuna boats which I was told not to do and yes it was way too long. Kind of burnt meself out.

[@JimboBurgess]

Gidday Gordon, a few of those names are very familiar. Butch is a good friend and mentor of mine. This is an industry I'm enjoying being a part of, full of great people, I'd say much like those you met yourself. Thanks for your message, appreciate it 👍

[@southernsailor8296]

Love this style of video explaining whats going on. Reckon its bloody awesome. Can you tell me where this hoo-roo came from? I first noticed people saying it in southland about a year ago. Doesnt seem to be said up here in the North Island though.

[@JimboBurgess]

Hey mate, I think it's origin is from old English, when fellas would say Hooray at the end of the day, and that's been whittled down to today's version. 🤷‍♂️

[@Cralis1]

That’s incredible. Thanks for sharing. Is the runway, actually a runway? Out for jobs, do you need to find a suitable landing solution?

[@JimboBurgess]

Gidday Craig, it is a paddock and a runway. But mostly a paddock. Most farms have their own airstrip, the majority of which are one-way. Land uphill and take off downhill irrespective of the wind 👍

[@tac-cobserver3788]

Cool, thx for the knowledge. Anyway, does the Beta thrust has the same function as reverse thrust ?

[@JimboBurgess]

Beta range is when the prop is at minimum pitch, around zero thrust. You go through beta range before reverse pitch, or reverse thrust 👍

[@tac-cobserver3788]

@@JimboBurgess Got it, thanks 🤙

[@philipmartin708]

Hi. That was fun. I noticed you put the stick forward after touchdown. What's the reason for that?

[@JimboBurgess]

Gidday. I'm checking forward to stop the nosewheel shimmying. The dampener mustn't be that effective on this aircraft 👍

[@outwiththem]

Jet fighter pilots have it lot easier except the rare they do high G turning discomfort. But they only do practice mostly every 2-3 days for a couple of hours a day only and with 10 people helping them before and during the flight. They dont even have to check the oils or clean the windshield. And with ejection seats and helicopters waiting for them in case they have to bail out. Easier and safer than Bush Pilots or Crop Dusters.. Hey Jay. Your comment deserves to be in front.. LOL.. Salud..

[@emergencylowmaneuvering7350]

jet fighter pilots have it lot easier except the rare they do high G turning discomfort. But they only do practice mostly every 2-3 days for a couple of hours a day only and with 10 people helping them before andduring the flight. They dont even have to check the oils or clean the windshield. And with ejection seats and helicopters waiting for them in case they have to bail out. Easier and safer than Bush Pilots or Crop Dusters..

[@tac-cobserver3788]

It's a little bit weird to compare both Fighter Pilot and Ag Pilot stuff. Air Force absolutely belongs to the country, and the state guarantees everything includes the aviators. So, both Fighter Pilot and Ag Pilot have Different task. But in terms of flight, they all have the same perspective, Safety, Healthy, Situational Awarness, Speed, Time, Accuracy, Fuel$ ect... Those things are in one package so called "Airmanship" 🤙

[@emergencylowmaneuvering7350]

@@tac-cobserver3788 Where in the USA constitution say "No one should compare Ag Pilots and Fighter jet Pilots".. Where??

[@tac-cobserver3788]

@@emergencylowmaneuvering7350 Hmm... ? Should we add constitution of a nation in this kind of conversation my friend ?

[@emergencylowmaneuvering7350]

@@tac-cobserver3788 Sorry you cant get it.

[@tac-cobserver3788]

@@emergencylowmaneuvering7350 well, maybe i got missunderstanding about this, so, sorry bout that mate

[@hoaniwarmenhoven6092]

Nice laid back flying, safe strip,the odd break turn, repetitive flight procedures. It just sucks finding out the fertilizer is the main cause of bowl cancer in our waterways. Bummer. We build some impressive aircraft though, tough, reliable, and durable.

[@00Donkey00]

Have you ever got the plane stuck? It looks like it could get a bit muddy in that turn around/loading zone.

[@JimboBurgess]

Thankfully never got stuck. Touch wood it stays that way 😁

[@emergencylowmaneuvering7350]

Taxi Flaps, please..

[@gyarmatthegreat6112]

How can i do the same like you? How did you started?

[@TheAnthonyDawson]

How meany planes do Ravensdown run?

[@JimboBurgess]

Good question, not exactly sure- I believe somewhere around a dozen 🤔

[@ryannygaard3659]

What crops? Grass for cattle?

[@JimboBurgess]

Yes, grass for stock (sheep and beef) 😎

[@jay6817]

1:26. "...and let her fly off the end" Hopefully ;-)

[@JimboBurgess]

😆

[@crashnburn586]

Let's not worry about a light bar. Let's worry about mounting some 50 calibur machine guns on the wings for 2024

[@warcon68yt]

why do you need to “stir the porridge” ?

[@JimboBurgess]

Checking controls are full and free. It's a check all pilots do prior to take off 🤠

[@philohara2521]

One of those things I wish I'd done when younger. Perhaps 49 is not to old to do a CPL but finding work in your 50's could be difficult.

[@ats-3693]

Which ag nav system is that?

[@JimboBurgess]

Satloc M3 👍

[@ats-3693]

@@JimboBurgess Ah ok. A company that I was with for a long long time here in Aus originally made a ag nav system but then switched to airborne geophysics, we had 3 FU24 950s for a long time but then moved to PAC750's and a Cresco, we had 6 NZ registered PACs and the Cresco flying surveys all over the world at one stage. I was the geophysicist and technician on many surveys in Africa and North America and I've done some very long cold uncomfortable trips in the back of a PAC with all the gear ferrying around Africa. Good times.

[@JimboBurgess]

Maybe we've met somewhere along the line, I flew for them for a while in '07-'08 Did most of my flying in Africa 😁

[@ats-3693]

@@JimboBurgess UTS Geophysics/Aeroquest + KiwiAir?

[@JimboBurgess]

@@ats-3693 Yes, I was with Kiwi Air