Ayres Thrush
| Ayres Thrush | |
|---|---|
 S2R-T Turbo Thrush as a fire fighting aircraft, 2005 |
|
| Type: | Agricultural aircraft |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
1956 (Snow S-2) |
| Commissioning: |
1975 (Turbo Thrush) |
| Production time: |
1975-2003 |
| Quantity: |
over 700 of all Ayres versions |
.JPG)
The Ayres Thrush is an agricultural aircraft made by the US manufacturer Ayres Corporation in the 1970s. Originally designed by Leland Snow as the Snow S-2 , the aircraft was one of the first specifically designed for use in agriculture. From 1965 to 1977 it was initially referred to as Aero Commander Ag Commander S-2R , then Rockwell Thrush Commander S-2R and after Ayres' takeover of the agricultural aircraft division of Rockwell-North American as Ayres Thrush Commander S2R . After the bankruptcy of Ayres and the re-establishment of Thrush Aircraftthe aircraft was further developed and is now (2020) marketed in different power levels as the Thrush 510/550/710 . In addition to the original use as an agricultural aircraft, various thrush versions were also developed for fire extinguishing missions, for the destruction of opium fields and for missions as a light close air support aircraft.
history
Agricultural aircraft
In November 1977, the newly founded company Ayres Corp. the agricultural aircraft division of Rockwell-North American. The two versions of the Rockwell Thrush Commander S-2R with radial engines have now been continued as the Ayres Thrush Commander S2R . The first turboprop version manufactured by Ayres was the Ayres Turbo Thrush S2R (version S2R-T34), which was based on the Thrush Commander 600, but used a 750 hp PT6A-34AG engine. The volume of the spray container (hopper) could be 500 US-Gal in the turboprop version. (1893 L) enlarged. Compared to the piston engine versions, the span was also increased from 13.54 m to 14.48 m, whereby this change could also be retrofitted to the radial engine versions. The first flight of a Turbo-Thrush took place on September 9, 1975, because Ayres had developed a turbo-prop conversion kit for the Thrush Commander in collaboration with Serv-Aero Engineering before starting their own production .
From 1979, two-seat versions of the Thrush and Turbo Thrush with a second cockpit seat behind the pilot's were developed. In this way, a technician or loader or the indicator could be transported at the same time. The winker was responsible for setting up markings to ensure that the spray paths were precisely adhered to. A double control could be installed for training purposes.
In 1995, Ayres still built thrush models with radial engines, with customers being able to choose between different engines. Among other things, a version S2R-R3S with the Polish radial engine Pezetel PZL-3S with 608 HP and the Leo-Thrush with a British Alvis Leonides with 658 HP were offered. For both versions, however, the demand was too low to ensure long-term production. The standard designs used the Pratt & Whitney R-1340 (S2R-600) and the Wright R-1820 (S2R-510 Bull Thrush). With an output of 1215 hp, the Bull Thrush was considered the most powerful agricultural aircraft in the world at the time.
The type S2RHG-T65 with a 1300 hp PT6A-65 engine allowed for the first time a takeoff weight of over 10,000 lb (4540 kg). Between 1991 and 2003, Ayres also manufactured turboprop versions with 680 hp, 850 hp and 1173 hp. These also included variants that were equipped with Garrett TPE331-6 turboprop engines. These can also be optionally equipped with 400 or 500 US Gal.-Hoppers. The most important advantage of the Garrett engine is its significantly lower price compared to the PT6A. On March 14, 2000, Ayres received type certification for the all-new 660 Turbo Thrush .
Combating drug cultivation
In the 1980s, the US government requested a long range sprayer to combat marijuana cultivation in Central America. For this purpose, Ayres developed a special version of the Thrush with typical equipment components of small combat aircraft. The version called S2R-T65 / 400 Turbo Thrush NEDS ( Narcotics Eradication Delivery System , in German about drug destruction system ) had armor for the two-seater cockpit and the engine area. The machine also had a self-sealing auxiliary tank that held 63 liters in case the main tank was hit. A PT6A-65A engine with 1376 hp served as the drive. Between 1983 and 1988, the US State Department ordered 19 Turbo Thrush NEDS to combat marijuana cultivation and destroy the poppy crop as part of Operation Roundup in Belize, Burma, Colombia, Mexico and Thailand. According to another source, eight single-seat specimens were made by December 1990; followed by the two-seater version, which was built ten times from October 1987.
The Roundup herbicide was carried in a 1,515 liter container and applied over the drug fields. Since the full-grown marijuana plant can still be used after the herbicide has been applied, the spraying was carried out while the seeds were ripening. As a translocating herbicide, application at this point causes the plant to self-fertilize. It shoots out of the ground and then suddenly wilts.
Light close air support aircraft
The Ayres V-1-A Vigilante was a ground combat version of the Turbo Thrush NEDS that Ayres developed in collaboration with the US State Department and the US Army Electro-Optical Survivability Program . The prototype with the registration number N3100A made its maiden flight in May 1989. In addition to an armored cockpit and self-sealing additional tank, the Vigilante has four NATO-compatible external load stations under each wing and three tandem suspension points under the fuselage. The two inner stations can each hold up to 544 kg, while the three outer stations of each wing are designed for loads of up to 158 kg.
Versions
First prototype in 1977
- Ayres Thrush Commander 600
- Name of the Rockwell Thrush Commander S-2R with 600 HP radial engine after the takeover of the agricultural aircraft division of Rockwell-North American
- Ayres Thrush Commander 800
- Former Rockwell Thrush Commander S-2R with 800 hp Wright R-1300 radial engine
The name Ayres Thrush Commander was changed to Ayres Thrush shortly after the takeover
- Ayres S-2R-T Turbo Thrush
- Series production of the turboprop version based on the previous conversion kit, such as Thrush Commander 600, but PT6A engine
Model when production was discontinued in 2003
_S2R-T331_Turbo_Thrush_(1).jpg)
- Ayres Turbo-Thrush S2R
- S2R-T11: 500 hp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-11AG, 400 US gal. Hopper
- S2R-T15: 680 HP PT6A-15AG, 400 or 510 US-gal. Hopper
- S2R-T34: 750 HP PT6A-34AG, increased take-off weight 4763 kg
- S2R-T45: PT6A-45AG
- S2R-T65 NEDS: Narcotics Eradication Delivery System , 1376 PS PT6A-65AG, five-blade propeller, 19 pieces to US State Department
- S2R-G1: 665 HP Garrett TPE331-1, 400 US gal. Hopper
- S2R-G6: 750 PS Garrett TPE331-6, optional 510 US gal. Hopper
- S2R-G10: 940 hp Garrett TPE331-10, four-blade propeller
- Ayres 660 Turbo Thrush
- 1230 PS PT6A-65AG or 1050 PS PT6A-60
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Ayres Thrush Commander 800 |
Turbo-Thrush S2R | 660 Turbo Thrush |
|---|---|---|---|
| crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| length | 8.89 m | 10.06 m | 10.21 m |
| span | 13.51 m | 14.48 m | 16.46 m |
| height | 2.79 m | 2.79 m | 2.97 m |
| Wing area | 30.34 m² | 32.52 m² | 37.16 m² |
| Wing extension | 6.0 | 6.4 | 7.3 |
| Volume of the spray container | 400 US gal. (1514 L) | 400 US gal. (1514 L) or 500 US gal. (1893 L) | 660 US gal. (2500 L) |
| Empty mass | 1860 kg | 1633 to 2223 kg | 2880 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 3538 kg | 2721 to 4763 kg | 6418 kg |
| Cruising speed | 220 km / h | 241 km / h at 55% power | 282 km / h at 55% power |
| Working speed (30 to 50% power) | 185 to 201 km / h | 145 to 241 km / h | 185 to 282 km / h |
| Top speed (level flight) | 249 km / h | 256 to 302 km / h | |
| Transfer range | 531 km at 70% power | 1239 to 1667 km at 45% | 966 km at 50% |
| Engines | 1 × seven-cylinder radial engine Wright R-1300 with 800 hp | 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 with 500 to 780 hp | 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AG with 1230 hp |
See also
literature
- Mark Ayton: Archangel: Crop Duster to Tank Buster . In: Air International, February 2017, pp. 24–33
- Ayres Thrush (Civil Aviation series) . In: Aircraft - The new encyclopedia of aviation, Issue 153, 1995, pp. 4257-4262
- Drug Hunt in Belize (Civil Operations series) . In: Airplane - Take-Off in die Welt des Fliegens, Issue 30, 1988/89, pp. 824-829
- The Flying Farmer - Plant Protection from the Air (Civil Aviation Series). In: AERO - The illustrated collective work of aviation, Issue 116, 1985, pp. 3226–3232
- John WR Taylor (Ed.): Jane's All The World's Aircraft - 1972-73 , Sampson Low, Marston & Company Ltd., London, 1972
- John WR Taylor (Ed.): Jane's All The World's Aircraft - 1978–79 , McDonald and Jane's Publishers, London, 1978
- John WR Taylor (Ed.): Jane's All The World's Aircraft - 1983-84 , Jane's Publishing Company, London, 1983
- Mark Lambert (Ed.): Jane's All The World's Aircraft - 1993-94 , Jane's Information Group Ltd., Coulsdon, 1993
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Janes 2003-2004, p. 524
- ↑ A brief overview of the history of Thrush Aircraft , accessed on October 20, 2020
- ↑ Jane's 2003-2004, p. 524
- ↑ A look at the Ayres Thrush S2R Series , accessed October 20, 2020
- ^ Aircraft, Issue 153, p. 4262
- ↑ Airplane, issue 30, p. 827
- ↑ Combat Crop Dusters: the Turbo-Thrush NEDS and the V-1-A Vigilante , accessed October 25, 2020
- ↑ Ayres V-1-A Vigilante - Low-Cost Mud-fighter . In: World Air Power, Volume 2, summer 1990, p. 22
- ↑ Jane's 1978/79 p. 254 f.
- ↑ a b Jane’s 2003-2004, p. 524 f.