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Aviation History
1985
1985 - 0084.PDF
BUSINESS AVIATION Schweizer introduces AgCat 450B ELMIRA Think of a crop-spraying aircraft and the chances are that a Schweizer (nee Grum man) AgCat will come to mind. The ubiquitous agricul tural aircraft has been around since 1957 in one guise or another, pulled along by a mighty Pratt & Whitney radial motor, or (more likely, if it is a new machine) a PT6 turbine engine. Almost 3,000 units have been produced. The company is still support ing AgCat No 1. Current best-seller out of the New York State factory is the 600gal (US) model, running at up to four a month, according to Les Schweizer. Sporting a shorter fin and shorter rear fuselage, the new 325gal AgCat 450 Super B represents Schweizer's cur rent effort. It received its first public showing at last month's US National Agricultural Aviation Association con vention in Las Vegas, and has been produced to meet market demand for a cheaper AgCat: "Now, price does not mean [that] you have to settle for less than an AgCat" is the company's sales pitch, trading very much on the work horse reputation established through almost 30 years. The 450 retains the higher top wing introduced with the advent of the Super B series two years ago. Fuel economy is claimed to be better at some 23 US gal/hr, with the added attraction of running on mogas. Les Schweizer says that one of the company's primary aims right now is to extend the options available across the range of AgCats. A 38in large-throat gatebox has been developed which will join the existing 25in series of gate- boxes, spreaders, and sumps. The new 325gal hopper is designed to be compatible with previous aircraft models and will be available for fitting as a retrofit modi fication. The manufacturer has increased its warranty to one year (or 300hr), which increase will be applicable to earlier aircraft. Other improvements include a new cockpit vent (drawing fresh air from abaft the canopy), and heavier landing gear for the 600 h.p. model. AgCats might provide Schweizer's bread-and-butter —saucer of milk?—but it is by no means all that the company does. Helicopters, sailplanes, and subcontract work all go toward the make-up of a business that is growing. A new office building has been put up at Elmira, and new computer-based numerical control machine tools are being introduced. Up to six helicopters a month will roll off the Hughes 300 line from this month, says Schweizer. The manufacturer has been the licensed source for more than a year and has total responsibility for sales, marketing, manufacture, and product support. He expects to send half of these abroad, a factor which could rise to some 70 per cent. (This contrasts with an AgCat export rate of about 20 per cent.) Nine 300s were expected to have been deliv ered by the end of 1984. The bulk of Schweizer's subcontract business is for Sikorsky and Boeing. The company manufactures "gun ner windows" for the Black Hawk and fuel tank pylons for the CH-53, employing some 50 people full time. Boeing business includes work on the 757, 747, and 737-300. Schweizer says that some 30- 40 per cent of its work comes from such subcontracts. The manufacturer has sold some examples of its 2-37 motor glider, but is waiting before going ahead with a batch of ten. It is likely to add a second fuel tank to increase available range. A number of derivatives are being worked on, including a military surveillance "Mini U-2". This is understood to be powered by a 750-800 h.p. turbine engine, and to have been flown to 50,000ft. Such is the popularity and longevity of the AgCat airframe that it has spawned a number of variants from smaller companies offering turbine conversions, different The Neiva Caraja (turboprop conversion of Embraer's licence-built Piper Navajo) has entered service in Brazil hoppers, or other changes. One such variant is the Super Ag Max, which sports a 430gal hopper and all-new wings spanning some 45ft tip- to-tip. Aero Mod General (Chelan Municipal Airport, Washington 98816, USA; tel (509) 682-5150) has produced the modifications which can be applied to A- or B-series AgCats. Aero Mod's Bert Morgan claims greater efficiency for the Super Ag Max as a result of the enlarged hopper capac ity and increased swath width (some "5-10ft greater" than the AgCat Model A). Compared with the latest B-series AgCats, Super Ag Max can do 40 per cent more work in an hour, and is 27 per cent more fuel efficient per acre applied, Morgan tells Flight. Speed is said to be about 15 m.p.h. above that of standard AgCats. The modification includes lengthening the fuselage by some 33in: 24in ahead of the cockpit (of which 9in are within the cowl area) and 9in at the rear end. New wing spars are fitted and these are manufactured with heavier flanges. To date, Morgan has remanufactured some 15 AgCat Bs since receiving a supplemental type certificate in 1981. In 12 months of post- STC work on A-series Cats, Aero Mod General has turned out five machines. Three of these are operating in South Africa. Production capacity at Aero Mod General is about six machines a year, for which Morgan quotes a $95,000 unit price "less trade". Caraja deliveries start CAIXA ~ Embraer subsidiary Neiva Industria Aeronautica has started deliveries of its turboprop conversion of the Piper Navajo. The first Caraja sold in Brazil (PT-ZNA) has gone to Banco Bamerindus, a financial conglomerate based in Curitiba in Parana state. Two further aircraft should now be in the hands of the state of Piaui and Companhia de Acucar e Alcool Bande- irante of Cornelio Procopio, also in Parana. Meat processor Perdigao Agro- Industrial of Santa Catarina state is having an aircraft converted. The Caraja is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 engines flat-rated to 550 s.h.p. and turning three- bladed Hartzell propellers. Conversion work comprises structural modifications to cope with the higher power and weight, redesigned engine nacelles and instrument panel, and new fuel and elec trical systems. Texas-based Schafer Aircraft Modifica tions developed the con version and Neiva purchased the rights. The Caraja has a maximum take-off weight of 8,0031b, an equipped empty weight of 4,9151b, a payload of 1,6401b, and a usable fuel capacity of 346 US gal. 12 FLIGHT International, 12 January 198$
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