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Air Tractor AT-802

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AT-802
Fox-firebase-at802-N398LA-070904-01-24
Air Tractor AT-802 SEAT (Single Engine Air Tanker)
Role Agricultural / Fire-fighting aircraft
Manufacturer Air Tractor
First flight 1990

The Air Tractor AT-802 is an agricultural aircraft that may also be adapted into fire-fighting or armed versions. It first flew in the United States in October 1990 and is manufactured by Air Tractor Inc. The AT-802 carries a chemical hopper between the engine firewall and the cockpit and another one under the belly. In the U.S., it is considered a Type III SEAT, or Single Engine Air Tanker.[1]

Development[]

In its standard configuration, the aircraft utilizes conventional landing gear (two main wheels and a tail wheel). However, a number of aircraft have been converted to the Fire Boss aerial firefighting configuration, which utilizes Wipaire 10000 amphibious floats, so that it can land on a traditional runway or on water. The Fire Boss can scoop water from a lake or river for use on a fire. In addition to the 820 US gallons (3,100 L)[2] standard fuselage-mounted retardant tank, the Fire Boss can have optional 70 US gallons (260 L) tanks in the floats.[3] Operations with floats installed have been shown to produce a shorter and narrower retardant drop pattern than wheeled AT-802s.[4]

Armed version[]

AirTractor Paris I

AT-802U prototype at Paris Air Show

In response to the United States Air Force's LAAR program and the growing requirement for light counter-insurgency aircraft,[5] Air Tractor developed an armed model, the AT-802U, in 2008, with engine and cockpit armor, a bulletproof windscreen, self-sealing fuel tanks, and structural reinforcements for the carriage of 9,000 pounds (4,100 kg) of payload. A reinforced wing spar was certified for 12,000 hours of flight time,[6] and the AT-802U was displayed in 2009 at the Paris Air Show.[7]

The AT-802 has also been used in counter-drug operations in the USSOUTHCOM AOR by the U.S. Department of State as a delivery vehicle for herbicides and defoliants over narcotics production facilities.

Variants[]

  • AT-802 - two seat (tandem) cockpit
  • AT-802A - single-seat cockpit
  • AT-802U - two seat (tandem) heavily armored military version, modified with sensors and reinforced for weapons carriage[8]
  • AT-802F or AT-802AF - An aerial firefighting model 802 equipped with the Air Tractor Computerized Firegate[9]
  • Fire Boss - A model 802 equipped with Wipaire amphibious floats and Air Tractor Computerized Firegate[9]

Operators[]

Montenegrian air force AT-802A Fire Boss

Montenegrian air force AT-802A Fire Boss

Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Aerial Firefighting Unit Holds Drill, Year After Carmel Forest Fire

Israeli AT-802F in a firefighting drill

Flag of Argentina Argentina
  • Córdoba Province - Fire-fighting
Flag of Australia Australia
  • Aerotech First Response (South Australia) - 7 AT-802
  • Dunn Aviation (Western Australia) - 9 AT-802[10]
  • Kennedy Aviation (New South Wales) - 4 AT-802[11]
Flag of Brazil Brazil
  • Military Firefighters of Distrito Federal
  • Military Firefighters of Mato Grosso
Flag of Burkina Faso Burkina Faso
Flag of Canada Canada
  • Forest Protection Limited,[13] New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources - 6 AT-802F and 1 AT-802A Fire Boss
  • Conair Group - 13 AT-802A Fire Boss
Flag of Chile Chile
  • Combate de Incendios Forestales, Martinez Ridao Chile Ltda.[14] AT-802A Fire Boss
Flag of Croatia Croatia
Flag of Finland Finland
  • - Fire-fighting
Flag of The Gambia Gambia
Flag of Israel Israel
Flag of Italy Italy
  • Protezione Civile - 10 AT-802A Fire Boss
Flag of Macedonia Macedonia
  • Protection and Rescue Directorate of the Republic of Macedonia - 3 AT-802A Fire Boss
Flag of Montenegro Montenegro
  • 2 AT-802A Fire Boss[17]
Flag of Spain Spain
  • Ministry of Environment (CEGISA) - 3 AT-802A[18]
  • Avialsa T35 - 15 AT-802 + 14 AT-802F [19]
Flag of the United Arab Emirates UAE
United States

Specifications (AT-802)[]

Croatian AirTractors AT-802F FireBoss

Three Croatian AT-802F Fire Bosses

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004[22]

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two
  • Capacity: 820 US Gal (3,104 L) of chemicals
  • Length: 35 ft 11 in (10.95 m)
  • Wingspan: 59 ft 3 in (18.06 m)
  • Height: 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m)
  • Wing area: 401.0 ft2 (37.25 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 8.8:1
  • Empty weight: 6,505 lb (2,951 kg)
  • Gross weight: 16,000 lb (7,257 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67F turboprop, 1,350 hp (1,007 kW) each

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 221 mph (356 km/h)
  • Range: 800 miles (1,289 km)
  • Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,620 m)
  • Rate of climb: 850 ft/min (4.3 m/s)

Specifications (AT-802U)[]

Data from[citation needed]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2 (tandem)
  • Length: 35 ft 8 in (10.87 m)
  • Wingspan: 59 ft 1 in (18 m)
  • Height: 11 ft 6 in (3.5 m)
  • Wing area: 401 sq ft (37.3 m2)
  • Empty weight: 6,400 lb (2,903 kg)
  • Gross weight: 16,000 lb (7,257 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 16,000 lb (7,257 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67F turboprop, 1,600 shp (1,200 kW)
  • Propellers: 5-bladed Hartzell Propeller HC-B3TN

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 230 mph; 370 km/h (200 kn)
  • Cruising speed: 184 mph; 296 km/h (160 kn)
  • Range: 1,841 mi; 2,963 km (1,600 nmi)
  • Endurance: 10 hours
  • Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,620 m)

Armament

  • 8 hardpoints for up to 9,000 pounds (4,100 kg) payload, including but not limited to:
    • 2,500 pounds (1,100 kg) or 1,000 pounds (450 kg) smart bombs
    • 8 × AGM-114 Hellfire laser guided missiles
    • 38 × 2.75 inches (70 mm) Hydra 70 folding fin aerial rockets
    • 2 × GAU-19 .50-calibre (12.7×99 mm) gunpods

    • See also[]

    References[]

    Notes
    1. ↑ "Interagency Standards for Fire and Aviation Operations 2007, Chapter 17" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. http://web.archive.org/web/20070928013524/http://www.nifc.gov/red_book/2007/Chapter17.pdf. Retrieved 2007-08-31. 
    2. ↑ AT-802 Fire Boss Factsheet at http://www.airtractoreurope.com
    3. ↑ Wipaire Fire Boss Service Manual
    4. ↑ "Evaluation of Long Term Retardant Drop Patterns from Air Tractor 802 Amphibious Float and Wheel Equipped Aircraft", Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada, February 2006
    5. ↑ Trimble, Stephen. "PARIS AIR SHOW: Cropduster-turned-gunship makes Le Bourget debut". flightglobal.com. 15 June 2009. retrieved 7 November 2010.
    6. ↑ Exciting Product Developments In 2009. airtractor (2010-02-10). Retrieved on 2010-11-04.
    7. ↑ PHOTOS: New gunship flies to Paris Air Show debut - The DEW Line. Flightglobal.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-04.
    8. ↑ Photos: Air Tractor AT-802U Air Truck Aircraft Pictures. Airliners.net (2009-06-18). Retrieved on 2010-11-04.
    9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 www.Airtractor.com AT802A
    10. ↑ Dunn Aviation - Firebombing
    11. ↑ "Aircraft register search results". Civil Aviation Safety Authority. http://casa-query.funnelback.com/search/search.cgi?collection=casa_aircraft_register&meta_v_sand=&meta_A=-allresults&meta_o_sand=&meta_m_sand=&meta_X_sand=&meta_r_sand=&meta_q_sand=Kennedy+Aviation&meta_xyear_sand=&meta_Y_sand=&num_ranks=10&Search=Search. Retrieved 16 February 2013. 
    12. ↑ Hoyle Flight International 13–19 December 2011, p. 35.
    13. ↑ Welcome to Forest Protection Limited. Forestprotectionlimited.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-04.
    14. ↑ [1]. En Chile trabajando para Forestal Mininco y Forestal Celco.
    15. ↑ Hoyle Flight International 13–19 December 2011, p. 39.
    16. ↑ Egozi, Arie (2011-08-06). "Israel's new firefighting squadron". Flightglobal. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/06/08/357524/israels-new-firefighting-squadron.html. Retrieved 2011-09-07. 
    17. ↑ Prvi crnogorski avioni za gašenje požara :: Dnevni list Pobjeda. Pobjeda.me (2008-04-30). Retrieved on 2010-11-04.
    18. ↑ Keijsper 2008, pp. 43.
    19. ↑ "Flota de Aviones". Avialsa. http://www.avialsa.com/flota_aviones/. Retrieved 2011-09-07. 
    20. ↑ Trimble, Stephen (2011-01-25). "AirTractor delivers UAE's first AT-802Us". Flightglobal. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/01/25/352282/picture-airtractor-delivers-uaes-first-at-802us.html. Retrieved 2011-09-07. 
    21. ↑ www.airtractor.com - first us contract
    22. ↑ Jackson 2003, pp. 509–510.
    Bibliography
    • Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International, 13–19 December 2011. pp. 26–52.
    • Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.
    • Keijsper, Gerard. "Water-Bombers Required!" Air Forces Monthly, London: Key Publishing, July 2008 Issue.
    • Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. pp. 31–32. 

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