Unique Airshow Display Team

I just found this picture in my collection which I took at the Auckland International Airshow in 1992. It demonstrates the skill this team has in very low formation flying. Look closely and you’ll see all three planes!

Great stuff Galdri, that is a truly lovely Dak.

Naive of me I know, but I’d never really thought of Iceland having agriculture in this way. Everything I’ve seen of your country on television (and also when I flew over it en route) looks so rocky and icy. I guess like most countries there is a lot more diversity than the general impression that TV gives. Sorry.

I wonder if any more Ag-Daks are still working away anywhere. They are a rarity these days.

Ahhh………Crop dusting:D 😀

We have a government run outfit here in Iceland that does quite a lot of crop dusting. It has been decreasing over the last few years though, and probably will die in the next decade or so:mad:

This crop dusting outfit has managed to keep alive one of the icons of Icelandic aviation, namely the first C-47/DC3 that was owned by an Icelandic Airline. The aircraft in question is Douglas C-47 43-30710. It was registered as TF-ISH in august 1946 with the name Gljáfaxi. The airline was Flugfélag Íslands (Air Iceland). It was used extensively on domestic routes, flying passengers and cargo. In the late sixties it was put on skies, and flew in Greenland as well as the domestic routes in Iceland. In 1973, the C47’s of Flugfélag Íslands were being phased out of service in favour of the F-27 Friendship. At that time the airline donated two aircraft to Landgræðsla Íslands, which is a government run agency tasked with improving flora of the island. TF-ISH was one of these aircraft and the other was 42-23998/FD939 TF-ISB. TF-ISH was converted for crop dusting with modifications received from New Zealand, and it is still going strong in that role:D TF-ISB is still in storage, and acts as a spare part source for the flyer.

ISH now has a new identity and is known as TF-NPK with the name Páll Sveinsson. It is flow by volunteers from the Icelandic Airline Pilot Assotiation, many of whom flew it while still in passenger service with Flugfélag Íslands. There are a couple of passenger seats still in the aircraft in front of the hopper, and they are very liberal about allowing people to hop along for a drop or two:D Needless to say, I’ve been with them a couple of times, and what a magic:D There is nothing that compares to it. I’ve even managed some stick time to and from the drop zones;) 😀 Spring is here when we hear the growl of two P&W labouring for altitude over Reykjavik with the aircraft at military overload. Here are a couple of pictures of said aircraft as it is to day.

NPK flying

NPK at Reykjavik airport last summer

Flying at Gunnarsholt several years back

There was a lot of accidents in those early years too as pilots pushed the old aircraft to their limits (and often past them)

Man, that would be a fun job, flying an avenger low over the country side,…legally !!

And Beavers, and Lodestars and earlier than that, Tiger Moths.

It was Arthur Baker from Cambridge who hit upon the idea when he returned from the war where he’d been in the RNZAF. He wasn’t an RNZAF pilot, but was actually into earthmoving. He was a farmer prewar and had bought a huge piece of land that needed breaking in. He’d bought an earthmover to help, and soon found his neighbours were hiring him to do their land too.

When war came he joined one of the aerodrome construction squadrons i believe where his skills were put to good use. When he returned to his farm he was so busy with earthmoving business he looked to a quicker way of spreading the fert. He had taken up flying at some point and had a Tiger moth. So he flew it, and another ex-RNZAF chap sat in the front with a sack and a scoop and he bailed it out onto the land. Not sure at this stage who the second guy was, but when they realised they were onto something Ossie James became involved. Maybe he was the other guy? They knew there were loads of Tiger Moths not being used in the RNZAF any more, so approached them. The Air Force took up the idea and the Government sponsored trials using the Avengers, as some of their pilots had experience with spraying Japanese crops with diesel during the war so they thought this was similar type of flying.

It worked, and the Tigers were released in the dozens for topdressing. The big companies were James Aviation and Feildair, the latter flew the DC3s and Beavers. And man, they would wingover the DC3’s like nobody’s business. I have seen an awesome video of the last DC3 crop dusting operation before they retired to freight work. Sadly Dad no longer has that tape. It was in rugged hill country near Gisborne.

PS: See these links – Feildair topdresser photos
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~av8or/GAPS/pictures/zk-caw.jpg

http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~av8or/GAPS/pictures/zk-apb.jpg

http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~av8or/GAPS/pictures/zk-bbj-1.jpg

http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~av8or/GAPS/pictures/dc3-5.jpg

http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~av8or/GAPS/pictures/dc3-6.jpg

http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~av8or/GAPS/pictures/beaver-1.jpg

http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~av8or/GAPS/pictures/zk-azb.jpg

http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~av8or/GAPS/pictures/zk-bjm.jpg

http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~av8or/GAPS/pictures/zk-bjm2.jpg

well written, Dave !!

And to further point out,…we also used DC-3’s once upon a time too for this !!!!

Just to clarify for anyone who isn’t sure what these aircraft actualy do, I’ll try to explain. They don’t spray. There is very little aerial spraying in New Zealand (apart from the Government aircraft that spray the cities making everyone ill).

These PAC aircraft drop powdered fertiliser onto the land, which unlike spray which is designed to kill pests or weeds, this is to enhance the soil and erradicate the various mineral defficiencies. A farmer has his soil tested and works out what is lacking in the soil, and they mix a batch of ferts and stuff to bring the soil back to an optimum level for the year. This is usually an annual task. The fertiliser company then gets one of its planes to spread the fert. They have two seats and usually the farmer or someone from the area goes too for the first flight to point out which paddocks he wants done, and where all the trees and powerlines are, etc.

This is a technique invented in New Zealand (actually by a guy from Cambridge here I found out very recently!) and developed by the RNZAF. It revolutionised NZ farming, thus helping the ecomony thanks to exports of beef, lamb, butter, etc.

Unlike spraying which is considered unsound due to wind drift, etc., the superphosphate is heavy and doesn’t drift off course, so topdressing is very accurate and saves having to spread it by hand or tractor.

We in NZ call this technique topdressing but in some countries it’s called crop dusting.

Aerial crop spraying is virtually extinct in this part of the world. Back in the 70s it was not unusual to see AgCats, Thrush and Snow Comanders and Piper Pawness plying their trade in the British Isles. However, agricultural methods have changed so there is not much call for them anymore. You are more likely to see these types of aircraft being used as glider tugs now.

Originally posted by turbo_NZ
They are very Fugley aircraft ay !!!!:D

Apparently the Crescos are very different to the FU-24 Fletchers that they get confused with.
They look similar to me.

I believe the diffences apart from the obvious engine type is actually in the construction and the Cresco is a total redesign based round experience of building the Fletchers. Much like the Airtrainer experience. So yes, they look similar, but when you get down to nuts and bolts there are many differences.

And yes, they are particularly ugly. But then have you ever seen a pretty ag plane? Apart from the RNZAF Avengers of course!

Seriously though, if you guys ever get offered the opportunity to see the WAW team, definately do. These photos don’t really get to show you the full impact of the display, with the two Flectchers screaming out their harvard-like growl, and the whistle of the Cresco as it does the solo spot. As I said, they can seriously point them into wind and hover. And yes Chris, that turning circle is like the proverbial dime.

The Crescos have actually been used for all sorts of things, including combat I believe. They were designed with hard points for rockets. And the hopper can be removed and the empty aircraft fits 11 or 12 parachutists. They’re awesome beasts.

Rural Kiwis get to see little airshows often when it’s topdressing season.

You guys in the UK should get this team up to Flying Legends or Shuttleworth, at the very least they’ll superphosphate the airfield for you as they display!

I have seen them a few times and each time they seem to push the envelope a bit further. No doubt they’ll be at Wanaka again this year.

They are very Fugley aircraft ay !!!!:D

Apparently the Crescos are very different to the FU-24 Fletchers that they get confused with.
They look similar to me.

The low level, high speed run!!!

A high level pass

These guys can FLY !!

They are awesome. Those Cresco’s have amazing turning ability

Bomb Burst Go!!

Let’s see the Red Arrows do this – land, reverse into your own smoke and be buzzed very closely by your No 2

Oh yeah, and their operating height, and aerobating height, is very very low! these pilots are incredible

Their wing-over capability is phenominal by the way