Douglas A/B-26 Invader
Ag Cat
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Douglas A/B-26 Invader Ag Cat |
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The Grumman G-164 Ag Cat is a single-engine biplane agricultural
aircraft, developed by Grumman in the 1950s. The Ag Cat design has been in almost continual production since
1957. Initial production was through a contract with the Schweizer Aircraft Corporation, who built 2,455 for Grumman between
1957 and 1981. In 1981 Schweizer bought the rights to the design and continued
production under the name Schweizer Ag Cat. Schweizer sold the design to Ag-Cat Corp. of Malden, Texas in
1995. That company entered banktruptcy and no aircraft were produced. In February 2001 the design was sold to Allied Ag-Cat Productions
Inc. of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Allied Ag-Cat are not producing new aircraft although a related company operates a large fleet
of Ag-Cats. The basic airframe incorporates many safety innovations, including
a pressurized cockpit to keep pesticides out, air conditioning and a fuselage structure that is designed to progressively
collapse in the event of a collision The basic model Ag Cat was certified with four different engines:[3] A total of 400 of this model were produced. The G-164A became the main model starting with serial number
401. This model featured a 450 hp (335 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985 radial engine along with a higher gross weight,
increased fuel capacity, larger diameter wheels and improved brakes. The A/600 incorporated the same improvements embodied in the
A/400, but was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine of 600 hp (450 kW). The B/450 improved on the "A" model by increasing the wingspan
from 35 ft 11 in (10.95 m) to 42 ft 3 in (12.88 m). The fin and rudder were enlarged and the
fuselage was also lengthened. The upper wing was raised on the "B" model by 8 in (20 cm)
do reduce aerodynamic interference between the wings and improve cockpit visibility. The B/525 incorporated the design improvements of the B/450,
but was powered by a Continental /Page R-975 engine. The C/600 first flew in 1976. It is similar to the model B/450
but has its fuselage further stretched to incorporate a 500 US gal (1,892 l) agricultural hopper. The model is powered
by a 600 hp (450 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine. The "D" model is similar to the C/600 but replaced the radial
piston engine with a Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprop powerplant of 680 shp (507 kW). The D/ST model is identical to the Turbo Ag Cat D/T, but the
engine was a Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprop powerplant of 750 shp (559 kW). The D/SST model is identical to the Turbo Ag Cat D/T, but is
powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprop powerplant of 850 shp (634 kW). Introduced in 1982 the B-Plus/600 is powered by a Pratt &
Whitney R-1340 of 600 hp (450 kW). It has a the larger hopper of the "C" model Also made available for the first time in 1982 the lowered powered
B-Plus/450 is powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-985 of 450 hp (335 kW). This model was available only as a custom
order. This after-market conversation was created by re-engining the
Super Ag Cat C/600 with a Garrett TPE331-1-101 turboprop, de-rated to 600 hp (450 kW). This after-market conversion of the Super Ag Cat C/600 replaced
the 600 hp (450 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine with a Wright R-1820-202A radial engine that produces 1,200 hp
(895 kW). General characteristics Performance
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