Fixed-wing aerial top dressing

[@stephengloor8451]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAC_Cresco - awesome NZ plane

[@ZacYates]

Not quite: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAC_Fletcher

[@emergencylowmaneuvering7350]

American airplane from 1954 with turboprop engine later on.

[@evo-labs]

I've flown a few times as a passenger on these aircraft. It's spooky watching the stall warning light going on and off during the turns, all at very low level. The pilot asked me if I had life insurance. Good fun!

[@BlackPixxelDE]

Haha I love the intro! The plane looks sick, very purpose build! The elevated runway is nice, cuts down the length requried for accelerating/slowing down

[@emergencylowmaneuvering7350]

Good that he is leaving the take off flaps as Lift Flaps while taxiing. Taxi Flaps. Less RPM needed on taxiing. Less prop damages. I learned that in 1993.

[@mikeupton5406]

LOL!! Great video. A lot of detail shots. I have known about this family of aircraft for awhile. They would be a great R/C subject.

[@16WREGGER16]

This pilot is totally nuts! Respect!

[@Orbis92]

Amazing plane, but I really like that 2-in-1 truck you can drive from both sides :)

[@skyvidznz3544]

Great video .. Loved your intro ... Looked very realistic .. Hope that Nitrogen prill you got into your eye came out rapidly ... Bet it stung like crazy . Loved your camera angles and views . Awesome !

[@DoRC]

1:15 trim tabs like that are sometimes added to correct for wing twist or other strangeness throughout the life of the plane.

[@autoair4637]

Excellent video, I love the close up detail shots.

[@arlenn729]

that's impressive, 1.2 tons payload for this small plane

[@jef____4054]

I take my hat off to that pilot..!!

[@skyvidznz3544]

They are very clever and do this type of flying every day here in NZ . Fertilizer is flown on to the land where ground application is usually not possible.

[@spikeydapikey1483]

Cool video! Looks like he really enjoys his job.

[@AndrewNewton]

Very interesting. Looked so real

[@Adamcz95]

6:32 that pilot is a total badass

[@ddegn]

I also liked 11:09. This was a really fun video to watch. Thanks iforce2d.

[@djengines]

Ace video. I couldn't stop myself watching it over and over :-)

[@sterby1]

1:14 trim tab 2:21 vortex generators, to keep the airflow "sticking" to the aileron surface

[@BlackPixxelDE]

And the generators only on the outer wing, so they stall last to reduce tip stalling

[@RubenLensvelt]

I believe the trim tab is adjusted by ground maintenance. The vortex generators add energy to the boundary layer. They turn the laminar boundary layer into a turbulent layer. The turbulent boundary layer separates at a higher angle of incidence. I think the goal is to get the stall to occur at the same time over the whole wingspan instead of starting at the root. That way the stall characteristic is gentler.

[@RubenLensvelt]

The layer tends to separate last at the tip as as the pressure leaks to the wing tip.

[@kadmow]

@@RubenLensvelt : We always want stall to start at the root and progress outwards for a progressive entry into stall while maintaining roll authority - even up to "deep stall". If the whole wing stalls at the same time, that will be a very violent stall entry. (though not as bad as when the stall starts at the tips - steep,slow turn into final - oops, because then you have reduced roll control - I know stall recovery proceedure is; reduce pitch and Rudder into the "roll/yaw couple" -incipient spin- to "pick up the falling wing, "no" aileron inputs as that will deepen stall on the downward rotating wing.. ) when the ground is near it is best to avoid any stall entry at all costs.

[@Supersonicff-dw6bs]

The wings are bent up (diahedral) on the outer third of each wing to keep the air from sliding off the tip of the wing. Try those kinds of low speed & low altitude turns with a flat wing, you've stall and fall out of the sky. The vortex generators help keep air directed over the ailerons especially during turns as the air wants to slide laterally the end of the wings. On newer commercial jets, they have canards (triangular shaped fin) on the end of the wing to keep air from sliding off the wing. The downside of the type of wing the plane has, is diminished aerodynamic efficiency at higher speeds due to increased drag. Even with the big turboprop motor, I bet the stall horn is squalling the entire time the pilot is trying to get over those trees on takeoff. Nerves of steel and a light hand on the controls.

[@Jordan-hf4ch]

The pilot is a true professional, everything he does is pinpoint.

[@MSBWilson]

A great overview of NZ topdressing operations. Well done. There must be hundreds of these farm airstrips around NZ. One at a friends farm that I fly off (FPV and RC Heli) is quite a bit rougher and possibly shorter than this one. Note to self: Workplace health and safety - hard hat, eye protection, hi-vis and steel capped boots. Good protection from fert in the eye, a bump on the head or a dropped transmitter ;-)

[@iforce2d]

I eventually realized that the pellet that got in my eye bounced off the top of the camera. You can actually hear the single sharp 'tic' noise.

[@thenatedog]

Very interesting video. Amazing it can lift that much weight.

[@grandaddyc]

The newer Crescos carry 2154 kg superphosphate plus 1 hr fuel. US ton=970kg.from memory.

[@iforce2d]

yep, this one does 1200kg but the guy said they have other planes that can do 2 ton

[@adrianryan1975]

Amazing runway n take offs

[@jacobkemp1183]

Saw Zk-eme taking off and steep as airstrip, guess about less than 320 m long out the back of glen Murray in north Waikato last year, was pretty impressive

[@Georgewrigley]

Interesting video. Greet plane and piloting skills. Cheers :)

[@stewjade]

Enjoyed that Chris. Thanks ....

[@stofffpv3128]

just wow on so many levels...

[@mr.sandman4782]

Man, i could not stop laughing. Love the video

[@clayadam2344]

I love watching these guys work. They just don't sound as good as the old Fletchers though :P

[@smooth_ops2942]

Loved the video.

[@stevejory9679]

Standard flying operations of topdressing pilots in New Zealand, something that you see all the time.

[@blancsteve4819]

Wow. That is a lot of gardening.

[@namboozleUK]

This job looks so fun

[@Twin_Flyer]

Very cool plane, I want to model one now, 80" would be sweet

[@chrisshepherd8082]

Trim tab on the aileron

[@scotabot7826]

That guy at the end in the turbine is making some extremely dangerous turnarounds. He's flying way to close to the wrong side of the fine line! Whew!!!!!

[@stofffpv3128]

id love to know how much ths operation costs,,its deffo worth every penny

[@Jordan-hf4ch]

Likewise, seems amazing that it's cheaper to pay a pilot to do this than to do it yourself with some sort of truck.

[@emergencylowmaneuvering7350]

That airplane has such a thick high lift wing. Stall speed at full gross says it is 60 mph? Lower than Air Tractor of same payload?

[@RobisonRacing68]

Wow!!!! Can he take off in the other direction Chris?? And what was he spraying? Or rather, do you still have vision in that eye? LOL! That's way cool. Awesome efficiency. And yes, you fooled me at the beginning. :)

[@StonedAvocado]

i did a quick google and i think that they are dropping fertalizer but im no expert on this topic so it might be something entirely different. If you look at their website they mention farming a lot.

[@jockey12022011]

Correct, he mentioned that it was fertiliser in the video

[@iforce2d]

I doubt it could take off in the other direction, that would be a sight to see for sure :D

[@jacobkemp1183]

Just out of intrest, where this airstrip located

[@stofffpv3128]

that plane and that pilot...

[@philbx1]

I take it that the 'Once was house' is now only there for overnight stays :-) Great video again Chris. Which camera?

[@DesertVox]

Seems like the dihedral parts were added later on as a modification to provide more lift?

[@flashbeaster]

wow, it looks like AD-2 with turboprop

[@danniepushkin5849]

Stunning setting!! Can you tell us where this area is located?

[@iforce2d]

Waikato, NZ

[@sufysprojects2689]

very interesting .

[@fernandocrotti6977]

Parabéns amigo

[@marioskalogeropoulos7054]

NICE TURBOPROP 1/1 SCALE!!! YOU DEFINITELY FLY WITH 8CH POWERBOX 16-18 SERVO OUTPUTS! OR YOU USE A PILOT? PILOT IS MORE EXPENSIVE THO!!!! GOODNIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@handleymachine4421]

I’m pretty sure all the pilots that do that kind of work are just a little bit crazy.

[@iforce2d]

He said he used to fly long-distance FPV models, if that helps your diagnosis :)

[@amisoftau2659]

:) At flying school one of our instructors was an ex-crop dusting pilot. He wasn't my instructor but his students described him as - insane. He would fly up a narrow valley below hill top height, pull over to nearly brush the valley wall, then put on a 60+ degree bank and throw a 180 degree turn, all but brushing the trees on the other side. This was in our training aircraft - Piper PA-28 Cherokee 140. Very nice to fly. My best flight was a training flight solo into Sydney international airport. We were trained/based at Cessnock, near Newcastle NSW Aus. Fun times.

[@ddegn]

I live in Idaho and the one crop duster I know is more than a bit crazy.

[@sUASNews]

The Chinese have an autonomous version

[@motormadness9975]

vortex generators @ 2:20, reduced stalling speed

[@vaphualfpv]

What are they doing?

[@StonedAvocado]

i did a quick google and i think that they are dropping fertalizer but im no expert on this topic so it might be something entirely different. If you look at their website they mention farming a lot.

[@TheKetsa]

Spreading some kind of insecticide/fungicide ?

[@motormadness9975]

spreading fertilizer for the feeding grass for the cattle

[@SamEEE12]

Chemtrails

[@PiefacePete46]

It looks more like prilled (pelletized) urea, used to promote nitrogen content in pasture crops, and enhance growth and nutrient value.

[@mistercohaagen]

So, did you move to the pastures to develop agro drone technologies or just for enjoying the countryside? I've been subbed for a long while; Japan versus rural .nz is quite the move. I hope to get to a place where I can fly from my yard one day.

[@iforce2d]

I just like to be able to step outside my back door and fly, in a huge area with landowners permission :)

[@goopy0078]

Wow

[@FlyRc23]

This location looks very similar to your new home.

[@iforce2d]

This location is about 90 meters from my new home, that could be why :)

[@lasersbee]

4:26.. Sure takes a while to get off the ground even going downhill.... Interesting though... Looks like the fertilizer pellets that my neighbor uses on his fields.

[@johankotze42]

Fertilizer spreading. Ammonium Nitrate. It is what had exploded in Beirut recently.

[@karoma7898]

Is that 20x20x20? If so, you wanna wash your eyes fast, I'd wash my eyes out for most chemicals really

[@nicktwinn6760]

You would need to know if one was working in an area you were fpv-ing in hey! How can you find out ?

[@iforce2d]

For me this is the only one I need to worry about, and it's about 100m from my house, pretty easy to tell.

[@bensge1]

Wow, that’s a bold pilot for sure. Taking off on the inclined grass “runway” with the tree line in sight, then doing 90 degree turns at very low altitude. Not my style, let’s just say that. Funny intro too 😄

[@ghostrider6424]

you know you shouldn't use the cheap radio for such a big bird..

[@stu290bushrider]

So you got blasted twice, standing in the same spot. Hmm.

[@kc8omg]

Thought it sounded like a turboprop, it is :-) - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAC_Cresco If you need more Phosphorus in your diet, you might try salmon or yogurt next time, I'm not sure how effective it is absorbing it through your eye ;-)

[@Rysbee123]

So sad to know that this plane is now in bits

[@iforce2d]

It is? What happened?

[@Rysbee123]

@@iforce2d it’s just a the main body including wings looks like they are bringing it bat tho

[@installgentoo4362]

Wtf, how do I get a job like this?

[@AussieVeteran71]

You need balls of steel for this job.

[@haroldland4620]

you're confusing the public like Bruce ;)

[@MrPaperlapapp1]

I'm a very experienced RC airplane pilot, and i have to say your flying skills are very limited 😆

[@RagTheNutsOff]

Hey Chris, perhaps not an occupation for me ;) Bummer about catching one in the eye, Matt