Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Two-seat turbine-powered fire-bomber

Power Plant:

One 1,194 kw (1,600 shp) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67F turboprop

Specifications:

• Fuel capacity [standard]: 960 litres (211 Imp gals)
• Fuel capacity [optional]: 1,165 litres (256 Imp gals) or 1,440 litres (317 Imp gals)
• Empty weight: 4,082 kg (9,000 lb)
• Useful load: 3,175 kg (7,000 lb)
• Loaded weight: 7,257 kg (16,000 lb)

History:

Air Tractor has been in business since 1974 and has produced more aircraft for the agricultural aviation industry than any other company, its facility being at Olney in Texas, USA. Wipaire Inc is the largest aircraft float manufacturer in the world and has its facility at Inver Grove Heights in Minnesota, producing floats for aircraft from the Piper Cub to the Twin Otter since 1960. The AT-802AF was the first aircraft designed from the ground-up to operate in the fire-bombing role. The FireBoss floats were designed specifically for the AT-802 series for use in the fire-fighting role.

The AT-802AF was a development of Air Tractor’s very successful spraying aircraft series and was available as a landplane or floatplane with Wipaire FireBoss amphibious floats. The latter was described as having after-market amphibious floats and other modifications which allowed the aircraft to scoop water into the hopper whilst aquaplaning from suitable lakes or rivers. It was also fitted with a more powerful engine producing 186 kw (250 hp) more than the standard aircraft. It had the capability to scoop up 3,104 litres (683 Imp gals) of water in less than 14 seconds, ram loading water at the rate of 400 litres (88 Imp gals) per second at a speed of 100 km/h (62 mph), and return to a fire front within minutes. It had the ability to work as a land-based aircraft or as a scooper, being loaded with retardant [ie foam or gel] and then remaining close to the fire by scooping water from suitable sources. It could deliver up to 20 loads an hour.

The aircraft used new technology relating to gate controls not found in other aircraft used for this purpose. The pilot selected a coverage level, the amount of retardant to be dropped, made a ground speed correction and then relied on the aircraft’s computer to make continuous door opening adjustments to provide an even flow rate through the doors for even coverage of the ground. An accelerometer sensed turbulence or aircraft pitch accelerations and adjusted the door openings accordingly. With the controls and accurately selected coverage levels, the aircraft’s load of 3,104 litre (683 Imp gals) in the hopper was described as being able to do the work of 6,056 litres (1,332 Imp gals) plus from a conventional gate design. Fire drops have been made at approximately 194 km/h (121 mph) and drops could be made in a salvo, multiple drops, or a constant flow of material.

The AT-802AF has been described as having a rate of climb and cruise speed comparable to twin-engine ex-military air tankers and with a turbine had much lower maintenance and increased safety for the pilot. It was able to operate from small airports with a minimum length of 1,219 m (4,000 ft) near towns which were strategically located near fire areas.

A number of examples of the AT-802 series have been used in the fire-bombing role in Australia as landplanes, having considerable use in this role in January 2012 during widespread bushfires. In 2020 some six AT-802AFs were operated on fire-bombing operations on Australia’s east coast.

A number have been imported into Australia fitted with amphibious floats. The first of these became VH-AWU (c/n 802-0293), a two-seat AT-802 fitted with a PT6A-65 turboprop which was first registered on 9 September 2008 to R & M Aircraft Pty Ltd of Port Macquarie, NSW, subsequently being modified to amphibious configuration and with Air Tractor FRDS. During the off fire-bombing season it has operated in the Port Macquarie – Grafton areas as a sprayer fitted with a land undercarriage.

Three AT-802AFs have been imported by Pays Air Services of Scone, NSW, the first aircraft becoming VH-FBZ³ (c/n 802-0460 – ex N23579) on 10 July 2012.