Cream of the crop dusters.

PHONE: 229.883.1440 | FAX: 229.439.9790 | WEB: www.thrushaircraft.com
THRUSH AIRCRAFT, INC. | 300 Old Pretoria Road | Albany, Georgia 31721
Cream of the crop dusters.
There’s something new in the air at Thrush. From new leadership, to
improved product development, to a renewed passion for building the industry’s
best spray airplanes—Thrush Aircraft is quickly establishing a higher standard of
expectation for customers worldwide, and backing it up with the best products,
service and support in the business.
Formed in 2003, Thrush Aircraft Incorporated, carries on an impressive tradition
begun 40 years earlier by its predecessors Rockwell International, and the Ayres
Corporation. It is a tradition of unmatched quality and unprecedented innovation
within agricultural aviation—from certifying the first turbine-powered ag aircraft,
to designing, certifying and building the first dual-cockpit/dual control ag plane.
Every Thrush aircraft is designed to help keep pilots safer, while making them
incredibly more productive.
Making the best even better is all in a day’s work for us. Today, we build
a full range of aerial application aircraft to fit any size and type of crop dusting
operation. With hopper capacities ranging from 400 to 710 gallons, each of our
models provides superior visibility, lighter control surfaces, and unsurpassed
maneuverability. But what really makes a Thrush pilot’s day is our structural
durability and excellent performance under the most extreme conditions. Our team
is dedicated to designing aircraft with pilots and operators in mind—by keeping
a sharp eye on what will make your flying easier, your job more successful, and
your investment more secure. Compare a Thrush to any other agricultural airplane
and you’ll find there’s no comparison at all. And it doesn’t hurt that we back our
performance with the best training and product support in the industry.
No matter what job you take to the air to do, you’ll do it better in a Thrush.
Thrush Aircraft’s roots go deep into ag aviation’s past. The company’s storied
heritage began when North American Rockwell purchased the product line of Snow
Aeronautical. Rockwell then put its world-renowned engineering and manufacturing
skills to work, and the results were nothing short of amazing.
The first Rockwell ag plane was test flown in 1966. Even though it only carried
Athens
Marietta
ATLANTA
Augusta
a 400-gallon hopper, the aircraft contributed to the long, colorful history of crop
Macon
Colombus
GEORGIA
Savannah
dusting, and helped lead the transition to larger hoppers and more powerful engines.
Albany
Valdosta
Our facility is
In March 1970, Rockwell moved the entire product line from Olney, Texas, to Albany,
Georgia. By late 1973, the original 400 was in such demand that Rockwell increased the
production rate to one airplane per day, which was unprecedented at the time. In the
located in the
1970’s, Rockwell sold production rights for their agricultural aircraft to Ayres Corporation,
city of Albany in
and success continued for several years. Eventually, however, that success began to wane
the aviation-rich
state of Georgia.
and new product development slowed. The company grew quiet.
Twenty-six years later the ag industry’s greatest success story would take place,
when, in June 2003 a forward-thinking businessman named Payne Hughes purchased the
assets of the then defunct Ayres Corporation. Under Payne’s leadership, the company’s
staff, capabilities, and product line were revamped. Finally, the massive production
facility re-emerged as Thrush Aircraft, Inc.
Today, Thrush boasts a well-rounded management team with a wealth of experience in all
areas of manufacturing. What’s more, the veteran labor force has aerial agriculture
experience dating back to the mid-1960s, including all aspects of design, tooling
production, planning, product manufacturing, product support, and customer service.
something new IS DEFINITELY GOING ON HERE.
THRUSH | 2
BUILT TOUGH – LIKE THE WORK YOU DO.
A commitment to quality is putting it mildly. At Thrush’s 227,000-square-foot
manufacturing facility, we’re equipped with a full complement of sophisticated
machinery and a team of highly-trained engineers to oversee every aspect of
construction. And our focus on real-world quality is reflected in literally everything
we do, from cockpit design to flight characteristics.
Each one of our aircraft is built to be low on maintenance and high on dependability
– and operators worldwide will attest to our success in doing so. No airplane works
harder than a Thrush, and we can prove it.
Start with great
A Thrush will keep you flying more days and more hours than any other ag airplane,
components,
thanks in part to wing spars that can last a lifetime. All Thrush 510 models come
standard with a wing spar life of 29,000 hours, and our 710P has a spar life of 26,000
hours. That means you’ll get more days flying and working out of a Thrush.
Another reason you can get more done in a Thrush is that every aircraft comes
standard with rugged, long-lasting features such as a heli-arc welded 4130 steel
truss fuselage; four massive 4140 steel main spar caps; fiberglass hoppers made
and you get
a great aircraft.
At Thrush, only
the best goes into
every airplane
of abrasion-resistant polyester resin; wire strike protection; top-of-the-line MVP-50T
glass panel display; 900+ stainless steel cam locks, studs, or grommets to easily
we build.
strip down for cleaning and maintenance; and powder-coated airframes, engine
mounts, and tripod landing gear.
Quality is more than a tradition for us—it’s a way of life.
THRUSH | 5
Tried and true is an understatement when it comes to the Thrush 510P. Powered
by a renowned Pratt & Whitney turbine engine, this light and nimble aircraft is flat
rated to 750 shp. With a stunning mix of power and performance, it delivers the kind
of maximum loads and superior spray patterns that can make every ag pilot more
productive and profitable.
Now add to that our solid 510 airframe and it’s easy to see why the 510P has built
itself an unmatched track record for tough dependability, aerial precision, and low
maintenance. It’s little wonder this aircraft offers a great value for your budget, and
From design
to construction
to comprehensive
holds its value throughout its life. And when total cost per acre is the metric, there’s
simply no better aircraft to own.
It’s beautiful to be this rugged.
customer training,
we pay attention
to every detail.
Specifications:
• Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG
• Hopper capacity - liquid: 510 gal (1,930 l)
dry: 66 cu ft (1.87 cu m)
• Typical operating weight: 10,500 lbs (4,763 kg)
• Takeoff distance at 10,500 lbs: 1,530 ft (466 m)
• Landing distance - w/reverse: 400 ft (122 m)
• Cruising speed at 55% power: 150 mph (241 kph)
Features:
• Unmatched stability and control
• 365 sq ft of wing area
• Wire strike protection is standard
• MVP-50 glass panel cockpit display
• Powder-coated airframe
• 29,000-hour wing spar life
• Backed by the best warranty
in the business
INTRODUCING THE LEGENDARY THRUSH 510P.
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The most dramatic innovation in agricultural aviation since the turboprop
could very well be the new Thrush 510G. To create this next-generation aircraft,
our engineers teamed with GE to utilize that company’s highly anticipated new H80
turbine engine. The H80 produces 800 shaft horsepower and provides increased
temperature margins to enhance hot day takeoff performance and high altitude cruise
speeds. In addition, the 510G features a lighter airframe, and a low acquisition cost
which, combined with GE’s outstanding reputation for engine-build quality, makes
the 501G a serious contender for dominance in the field.
And like every Thrush, the 510G was designed from the ground up to deliver plenty
of thrust for full payload performance—without sacrificing any of the amazingly agile
handling that has made the 510 airframe a favorite among ag pilots worldwide.
GE chose Thrush Aircraft to launch their new H80 engine because of our proven
Our fanatical
expertise in building the most dependable agricultural aircraft in the world. You
passion for
should choose the new 510G for exactly the same reason.
ag aviation is
Being faster, lighter, and ahead of the curve is all part of our commitment
to ag aviation.
Specifications:
• Engine: GE H80
• Hopper capacity - liquid: 510 gal (1,930 l)
dry: 66 cu ft (1.93 cu m)
• Typical operating weight: 10,500 lbs (4,763 kg)
• Takeoff distance at 10,500 lbs: 1,339 ft (408 m)
• Landing distance - w/reverse: 350 ft (107m)
• Cruising speed at 55% power: 159 mph (256 kph)
evident in every
aircraft we build.
Features:
• Unmatched stability and control
• 365 sq ft of wing area
• Wire strike protection is standard
• MVP-50T glass panel cockpit display
• Powder-coated airframe
• 29,000-hour wing spar life
• Backed by the best warranty
in the business
THE INNOVATIVE THRUSH 510G.
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Unmatched power and unquestioning control are the hallmarks of the Thrush
710P. It’s the world’s most powerful ag plane, with one of the best swath and spray
patterns available today. Plus it boasts incredibly stable flight characteristics with
performance to match.
The new Thrush 710P is one of those airplanes that descriptions do not do justice—
you have to fly one for yourself just to see if they’re as good as everyone says. And
when you push the throttle, you can feel for yourself the power and control you won’t
Every Thrush
aircraft is
designed to
get you to work
find in any other airplane.
With incredibly stable flight characteristics and performance to match, this airplane is
designed to get the job done, no matter how big the job may be. Of course, the fact
that it’s the crop spraying airplane of choice for negotiating rough strips, small fields,
and obstacles should make you feel pretty darn good about the 710P, too.
every morning
and home safe
When you’re the workhorse of ag aircraft, exceptional performance is a given.
every night.
Specifications:
• Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65AG or PT6A-67AG
• Hopper capacity – liquid: 710 gal (2,687 l)
dry: 95 cu ft (2.69 cu m)
• Typical operating weight: 14,150 lbs (6,148 kg)
• Takeoff distance at 14,150 lbs: 1,598 ft (487 m)
• Landing distance - w/reverse: 400 ft (122 m)
• Cruising speed at 55% power: 150 mph (241 kph)
• Ferry range at 55% power: 600 sm (966 km)
Features:
• Unmatched stability and control
• Wire strike protection is standard
• 405 square feet of wing area
• Powder-coated airframe
• 26,000-hour wing spar life
• Backed by the best warranty
in the business
more is always better. meet the thrush 710p.
THRUSH | 10
As the world leader in getting the job done, we’re proud of the fact that
Thrush aircraft are depended upon for their role in helping operations of all sizes
fertilize crops, control insects, eliminate weeds, and fight fires. Whether it be
increasing yields, saving lives, or preventing the loss of property or forest,
it’s something we don’t take lightly.
Other jobs Thrush aircraft handle in stride include:
•
•
•
•
Sowing rice
Feeding shrimp
Top dressing for timber
Conducting special operations for drug eradication
•
•
•
•
•
Maintaining border surveillance
Transporting fuel to remote locations
Combating oil spills
Spraying crop canopies
Controlling mosquitoes and locusts
This versatility is part of what has made Thrush a favorite of operators, both large
and small, throughout the world.
Well designed, well proven, and well loved by more than 2,200 Thrush
aircraft owners hard at work in some 80 countries—that’s the proverbial proof
in the pudding. Major operators who rely on Thrush include such familiar names
as Dole Fresh Fruit, Del Monte Fresh Fruit, Aerovic, FumiPalma, as well as many
governments around the world. You simply won’t find a more reliable brand of
airplane anywhere.
Take off with a Thrush and see your business do the same.