Grumman AgCat G 164 B

N

Ningen

Filing Flight Plan
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Jun 10, 2011
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NINGEN
Hi folks,
As directed by our new local airworthiness inspector, one of our mecanics had to check and adjust the wing wire braces to the spacified value in the MM - 40 lbs. These wire braces were always tensioned by feel because the moment you want to adjust them iaw the value in the manual the inspection panels will start to wobble - indicating extra stress. That,s exactly what started to happen and the "show" was stopped. The Feds however demanded something in writing - documented-to justify what the maintence personel was telling them all along - dear AgCat people -please advise. Is there a service letter or service bulliten on this issue?
Eddy,
Wageningen Air Field - Surinam Sky Farmers - Suriname / South America
 
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Wow.. That sounds like more effort spent on maintenance of an AgCat than I've ever heard of.. ha..

You might want to check with NAAA (National Ag Aviation Assoc.) - they might have some AgCat specific info for you.
 
Ningen said:
Hi folks,
As directed by our new local airworthiness inspector, one of our mecanics had to check and adjust the wing wire braces to the spacified value in the MM - 40 lbs. These wire braces were always tensioned by feel because the moment you want to adjust them iaw the value in the manual the inspection panels will start to wobble - indicating extra stress. That,s exactly what started to happen and the "show" was stopped. The Feds however demanded something in writing - documented-to justify what the maintence personel was telling them all along - dear AgCat people -please advise. Is there a service letter or service bulliten on this issue?
Eddy,
Wageningen Air Field - Surinam Sky Farmers - Suriname / South America
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Sounds like you need this tool..

http://www.radialengine.com/flywire/index.html
 
One place you might try for the information is Mid Continent Aircraft in Hayti, MO. At one time they were the largest Ag-Cat Distributor in the world. I don't remember their phone number but it should not be too hard to find.
 
dillardrg said:
One place you might try for the information is Mid Continent Aircraft in Hayti, MO. At one time they were the largest Ag-Cat Distributor in the world. I don't remember their phone number but it should not be too hard to find.
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That, or buy a Ag Tractor..
 

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Henning said:
FTFY,but the ATs have their shortcomings too. If you need a "clean up" plane or one for small fields, the Ag Cat is a better option.
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When you have a GPS guidance you don't need a clean up plane. it doesn't matter how big the patch is.
 
Tom-D said:
When you have a GPS guidance you don't need a clean up plane. it doesn't matter how big the patch is.
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Yes you do because it is inefficient to use say a 602 AT for a lot of things. The turning room required for the big Air Tractors especially at their cost/hr to operate makes them money losers on small fields and coming back to do" that odd shaped little area over there by the creek" that takes 6 passes to cover a small spot, especially when you have tall trees at both ends. The Ag Cat handling in small spaces is far superior to the Air Tractors so you have less chance of plowing the field with the Ag Cat.

Ag Cat also has a safety advantage doing rice work in a flooded paddy as when you do end up upside down in the field, you end up high and dry instead of under water.

The Ag Cat is still working today because although ugly as sin, it has some distinct working advantages to it. With short ferry runs, I can cover more acres per hour with an Ag Cat than a 402 AT because I can turn so much tighter, which means I make more $$/hr.

The Air Tractors, especially the 602 are great for flatland pivot fields because for most applications, they carry enough to do a 120 acre pivot (most typical size) in one load, and they also have a better ferry speed.
 
Henning said:
Yes you do because it is inefficient to use say a 602 AT for a lot of things. The turning room required for the big Air Tractors especially at their cost/hr to operate makes them money losers on small fields and coming back to do" that odd shaped little area over there by the creek" that takes 6 passes to cover a small spot, especially when you have tall trees at both ends. The Ag Cat handling in small spaces is far superior to the Air Tractors so you have less chance of plowing the field with the Ag Cat.

Ag Cat also has a safety advantage doing rice work in a flooded paddy as when you do end up upside down in the field, you end up high and dry instead of under water.

The Ag Cat is still working today because although ugly as sin, it has some distinct working advantages to it. With short ferry runs, I can cover more acres per hour with an Ag Cat than a 402 AT because I can turn so much tighter, which means I make more $$/hr.

The Air Tractors, especially the 602 are great for flatland pivot fields because for most applications, they carry enough to do a 120 acre pivot (most typical size) in one load, and they also have a better ferry speed.
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no one is using air delivery for small plots you simply can't compete with ground machines.
 
Tom-D said:
no one is using air delivery for small plots you simply can't compete with ground machines.
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Come to Iowa sometime. I have handed out plenty of maps for < 10 acre fields. When the soybean aphids are costing you bushels per day of lost yield and beans are going for $10+/bu, you go for the fastest way to get results - not necessarily the cheapest method of delivery. Gotta look at 'total cost' to the farmer.

I actually had a Co-Op guy say "We figured the airplane could do this field easier than the ground rig." Yeah, right.. An airplane going 150mph can get into the 10 acre field at the bottom of a valley surrounded by tree on all sides easier than the ground rig. It was a death trap, so I just grinned, handed it back to him and said, 'No thanks.'
 
CJones said:
Come to Iowa sometime. I have handed out plenty of maps for < 10 acre fields. When the soybean aphids are costing you bushels per day of lost yield and beans are going for $10+/bu, you go for the fastest way to get results - not necessarily the cheapest method of delivery. Gotta look at 'total cost' to the farmer.

I actually had a Co-Op guy say "We figured the airplane could do this field easier than the ground rig." Yeah, right.. An airplane going 150mph can get into the 10 acre field at the bottom of a valley surrounded by tree on all sides easier than the ground rig. It was a death trap, so I just grinned, handed it back to him and said, 'No thanks.'
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Estimated 15,000 ac of potatoes in Skaget Vally this year and all are being sprayed by irrigation systems.
 
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