- Thread starter usetob
- Start date
Not a pilot. When I was a small boy, late 1940's I guess, next door neighbor was having his cotton sprayed by air. Pilot used a large(to me) radial engine biplane. Field was an L shaped 4 or so acre field with house and yard trees and highway at long end of L, trees at bottom of short end, our property line an side of short L. Pilot was cutting off spray at property line, then pulling up at sharp angle. Impressed me at that time.
KEH
The guy my dad hired startled the bejeebers outa me one day. He was spraying the field just north of the house, and I was out mowing the lawn, so I couldn't hear him, didn't know he was there. I'm casually mowing and all of a sudden here he comes, pulling up at the end of the field, climbing up and turning, just the other side of the barn, probably wasn't more'n 100 yards from me.
Several years ago I was puttering along on my little Honda 350. I came to our local nearby rail road crossing. It had poor visibility and I had slowed to a crawl and seeing it was clear I shot the juice to it. Just as I was crossing the tracks came the most godawful noise you ever heard. An ag pilot with his big radial roaring passed over my head from directly behind me just barely clearing the trees. Yep, they can scare you. TDF
jack harmon
Member
those guys are INSANE!true story,I used to work on a line crew years ago,we were out in the middle of nowhere changing out a pole.one of our linemen was on pole tying in primary on insulator when one of those guys flew over.he saw us on the ground pulled what looked like straight up 3-4000 ft and made a dive.flew that plane between nuetral and barbed wire fence(about 25 ft) at what seemed like 200 miles an hour!I've never seen a lineman come down a pole so fast!I swear you could see the grin on that pilots face from 300 yrds
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
It doesn't even have to be a crop duster plane. I was mowing at a church not far from an airport when a plane snuck up from behind directly overhead, gave me a memorable "start". Also mowed a lawn near a railroad track and a train snuck up behind and blew the horn. I bet the engineers love it. The mower etc. makes enough noise to let them sneak up on you.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Back in the 60's, the USAF had a B52 training route that I swear took them right through our attic. Many times I'd be out in the field on the old LA and one would go over and scare the S**** out of me.
James Howell
Well-known Member
In a previous life I was a "cadet pilot" in AFROTC.
I learned how to "fly" a Cessna 150 from an ag-pilot by the last name of Satterwhite.
<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa5/jameslloydhowell/?action=view¤t=Cessna150.jpg" target="_blank">
![Cessna150.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket](https://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa5/jameslloydhowell/Cessna150.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket)
</a>
This fellow was at least 7' tall and could whip a bear with a switch!
I learned real quick to bring a change of "drawers" with me when he was my instructor pilot.
One day he had me fly at fence-top level over his pasture so he could count his cows to see if they were all there.
Another time he made me land on a "temporary" runway about the size of a sidewalk that was hidden in 10' tall Johnson grass.
When we landed each wing tip cut the top off the Johnson grass!
He said it was a "rural" landing strip!
Damn! Now I'm so nervous I won't be able to sleep tonight.
I learned how to "fly" a Cessna 150 from an ag-pilot by the last name of Satterwhite.
<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa5/jameslloydhowell/?action=view¤t=Cessna150.jpg" target="_blank">
This fellow was at least 7' tall and could whip a bear with a switch!
I learned real quick to bring a change of "drawers" with me when he was my instructor pilot.
One day he had me fly at fence-top level over his pasture so he could count his cows to see if they were all there.
Another time he made me land on a "temporary" runway about the size of a sidewalk that was hidden in 10' tall Johnson grass.
When we landed each wing tip cut the top off the Johnson grass!
He said it was a "rural" landing strip!
Damn! Now I'm so nervous I won't be able to sleep tonight.
I'm glad to know you made it to retirement. Lots of ag pilots just in my neck of the woods (So. Ga.)bought the farm many years from retirement. I once had a 152 Cessna and I would "practice" crop dusting at the local abandoned A. F. base with a 10,000' main R/W. The breeze would whip that light spam can around and really make me sweat trying to hold altitude and the center line. Ag pilots have my admiration. TDF
buickanddeere
Well-known Member
There is old pilots and bold pilots but no old bold pilots.
730 virgil
Well-known Member
- Location
- IL Wis state line near Monroe Wi
when the new ethanol plant was being built near here the owner of construction company flew in from mn in his restored mustang p51(?).
when he finished his business one of the ethanol plant officers took him back to the airport, the other stayed at job site and said buzz the site when you leave town.
he forgot about what he said. several minutes later he heard a gosh awful sound of of an airplane going about 400 + miles per hour at 150 feet oof of the ground.
the switch boards of local police and sheriff department light up like a christmas tree.
when he finished his business one of the ethanol plant officers took him back to the airport, the other stayed at job site and said buzz the site when you leave town.
he forgot about what he said. several minutes later he heard a gosh awful sound of of an airplane going about 400 + miles per hour at 150 feet oof of the ground.
the switch boards of local police and sheriff department light up like a christmas tree.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Was out at the farm just before Desert Storm, kept hearing a loud engine and could not figure where it was. Turned around just in time to have a black C130 come out of the valley and hop over me and my trailer. Swear I could have jumped up and slapped his belly. Just before the activities in the Middle East, got to see quite a few C130's flying around below tree top level and following valleys around Coulee Region south of Ft McCoy.
TDF
Goose
Well-known Member
The summer after I got out of the Marine Corps, my father had surgery and I did the farming for him.
As I was holding down a full time job, that meant I did most of the farming at night. The Lincoln (NE) Air Force Base was still active, and was about 20 miles east of our farm. I was out plowing wheat ground around 11:00 one night. There had been one or more UFO sightings near Ashland, NE, further east, and while I was plowing I got absorbed in thinking about those stupid UFO's. About that time, an airplane came over the hill with its landing light on.
I darned near jumped clear off the tractor.
As I was holding down a full time job, that meant I did most of the farming at night. The Lincoln (NE) Air Force Base was still active, and was about 20 miles east of our farm. I was out plowing wheat ground around 11:00 one night. There had been one or more UFO sightings near Ashland, NE, further east, and while I was plowing I got absorbed in thinking about those stupid UFO's. About that time, an airplane came over the hill with its landing light on.
I darned near jumped clear off the tractor.
Started out in a 150hp Pawnee ended up in a Air Tractor 401B 600 hp
On hours: A hard 10 to 12 hour work day you may not log over 7 or 8 hours flying. You have to talk to farmers, map fields, mix and load chemicals, fuel plane, etc. However a 10 to 12 hour work day isn't the normal.
On hours: A hard 10 to 12 hour work day you may not log over 7 or 8 hours flying. You have to talk to farmers, map fields, mix and load chemicals, fuel plane, etc. However a 10 to 12 hour work day isn't the normal.
Nancy Howell
Well-known Member
"Old pilots never die, they just buzz off".
When I got older, besides being father/daughter, my dad and I were good friends. He told me he held the speed record for Main Street, Gosport, Indiana. Then he added, he cheated, he was 9 ft off the ground in a P-51 Mustang.
He was a great pilot and eventually became the only pilot Gen. Keel would allow to fly him around. He's been gone almost 20 years and I miss him a lot.
When I got older, besides being father/daughter, my dad and I were good friends. He told me he held the speed record for Main Street, Gosport, Indiana. Then he added, he cheated, he was 9 ft off the ground in a P-51 Mustang.
He was a great pilot and eventually became the only pilot Gen. Keel would allow to fly him around. He's been gone almost 20 years and I miss him a lot.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
saw one hit the ground one time many many years ago.i was setting in class at our then rural school,guy flew over and started dusting field right outside window,of course that stopped the class and we were all at window watching.he made about ten passes,and then for some reason he got too low,engine might have quit him,wheels clipped top of crop and it must have slowed him just enough he just nosed into ground.skidded across field(an old taildraggr biplane)on front wheels and engine cover,how it didnt flip I dont know.when it stopped he just climbed out sauntered over to school like it happened every day and used the phone to call someone to pick him up.in about 2 hrs he was back in another plane and finished up.with the first plane still setting in field.next day it was gone so I dont have a clue how he got it out.sure was one of the more memorable days at school though!!and the next day we got a lesson in how airplanes fly from our teacher.
usetob,
Are you considering spaying your own crops? I have saw farmers spray their own but most if not all were Ag Pilots that started farming. You need to get trained under someones supervision. There are lots of hazards in being a crop duster that one needs to be aware of to keep from getting in a trap. If you are a pilot you learned early the hazard of a downwind turn, especially low. Have you noticed a crop duster always leaves the field downwind to make the ag turn back to the field for the next swath? Well, there is a reason for that and it isn't a hazard if done correctly.
Are you considering spaying your own crops? I have saw farmers spray their own but most if not all were Ag Pilots that started farming. You need to get trained under someones supervision. There are lots of hazards in being a crop duster that one needs to be aware of to keep from getting in a trap. If you are a pilot you learned early the hazard of a downwind turn, especially low. Have you noticed a crop duster always leaves the field downwind to make the ag turn back to the field for the next swath? Well, there is a reason for that and it isn't a hazard if done correctly.
Gene Stevens
Member
I had an IP (Tommy Hart) for my private in Wichita Falls TX 35 years ago. I was his last student before he went into ag flying. He was killed by an older lady pulling out in front of him while he was heading home on his motorcycle several months later in Mississipi.
buickanddeere
Well-known Member
Scariest plane ride I ever had was returning from a moose hunts, loaded heavy in a Beaver while landing. On approach a flock of Giant Canada Geese flew across our path.
The Allmighty had a hand in survival that day. I'll never forget looking a goose in the eye from about 15ft away through a thin plastic windshield while doing 75mph.
The Allmighty had a hand in survival that day. I'll never forget looking a goose in the eye from about 15ft away through a thin plastic windshield while doing 75mph.
ldj, I started flying in the 60's, also flew a "widow maker" finally decided I liked farming better and retired from that in 1995 even though I still play farm and fly from time to time! I will say this,It's a tough job and my hats off to you!I have pulled a few out of cotton and rice fields in my time! Enjoy your retirement
Ron
Ron
Similar threads
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.
Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy