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Grumman Ag Cat

April 12, 2024

The Grumman G-164 Ag Cat is a single-engined biplane agricultural aircraft, developed by Grumman in the 1950s.

Ag Cat
Ag Cat G-164B
Role Agricultural aircraft
Manufacturer Grumman
First flight 1957[1]
Introduction 1957[1]
Schweizer Ag Cat A
G164A on floats

Development edit

In 1955, Grumman preliminary design engineers Joe Lippert and Arthur Koch proposed the design for a "purpose-built" crop-dusting airplane as a means of fulfilling a pressing need in the agricultural community, as well as the perceived need for Grumman to diversify its product lines. The initial market survey indicated that 100 to 200 of this type could be sold each year. Lippert's initial proposal was made under the project name "Farmair 1000".

The first G-164, which was built by Grumman (N74054), was equipped with a Continental W670 Series 6A-16 powerplant. The aircraft had its maiden flight on May 27, 1957, with Grumman test pilot Hank Kurt at the controls.[2][3] This initial flight test consisted of three short familiarization hops with the take-off weight set at 3122 lb and the center of gravity at 31.2%. Flight tests 2 and 3, with test pilot Victor Eble, were accomplished on May 28, 1958, to evaluate its general flight characteristics. In total, 46 test flights were completed by the end of August 1958 with a general finding that this was a well-behaved aircraft with only minor refinements needed before production.

When the decision was made to authorize production, Leroy Grumman suggested marketing the aircraft under the name "The Grasshopper"; however, Dick Reade suggested "Ag Cat" following Grumman's naming tradition using the suffix "cat" in aircraft names (e.g., F4F Wildcat and F6F Hellcat). Mr. Grumman agreed and the Grumman G-164 became the "Ag Cat".[3]

Large military orders prevented the production of the Ag Cat at Grumman's Bethpage facility. Grumman's board of directors chose to subcontract the entire program to the Schweizer Aircraft Corporation of Elmira, New York. Initial production was through a contract between Schweizer[4] and Grumman. The first Schweizer-built Ag Cat, bearing registration number N10200, flew on October 17, 1958, under the control of Schweizer test pilot Clyde Cook.[3] Full production began in January 1959, with Schweizer delivering 12 FAA-certified airplanes to Grumman by March 1959. The FAA granted type certification on January 20, 1959.[5]

The ownership of the Ag Cat design has changed hands several times. Grumman transferred ownership to its commercial aircraft subsidiary, Grumman American, in 1973. A market feasibility study for a new agricultural aircraft (Ag Cat X) was completed by Grumman American in 1976. This study indicated that potential market demand existed for more than 100 aircraft each year. The study also showed that most of the concerns expressed by agricultural aircraft operators were addressed by the Ag Cat C model. The Grumman American subsidiary, which also owned the Grumman Gulfstream design series, was sold to American Jet Industries in 1978.

From initial production through 1981, Schweizer built 2,455 aircraft under contract.[6] In 1981 Schweizer bought the rights to the design and continued production under the name Schweizer Ag Cat.[4] Schweizer sold the design to Ag Cat Corp. of Malden, Missouri in 1995.

Five model G-164B aircraft were produced and registered before Ag Cat Corp. entered bankruptcy. One additional aircraft, a G-164BT500, is listed in the FAA registry as having been produced by Ag-Cat Corp., but no tail number was issued.[7] This may have been an upgrade to an existing airframe.

In February 2001, the design was sold to Allied Ag Cat Productions Inc. of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.[5] Allied Ag Cat is 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.[4] Lippert and Koch were recognized for their innovation in agricultural aircraft, being awarded the Puffer Award by Delta Air Lines in 1974.[8]

Floats were approved for the aircraft in the early 1990s in Australia.[citation needed]

Variants edit

 
An Ag Cat set up for wingwalking
 
Grumman G-164A Ag Cat
 
Australian-registered G-164 Ag-Cat configured for scenic flights
 
A Grumman G-164 Ag-Cat for agricultural use in Venezuela
Ag Cat
The basic model Ag Cat was certified with four different engines - the 220-225 hp (164-168 kW) Continental Motors radial engine, the 240 hp (179 kW) Gulf Coast W-670-240 radial engine, the 245 hp (183 kW) Jacobs L-4M or L-4MB radial engine, and the 275-300 hp (205-224 kW) Jacobs R-755 radial engine. A total of 400 of this model was produced.[6]
Super Ag Cat A/450
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.[6]
Super Ag Cat A/600
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).[6]
Super Ag Cat B/450
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.[6] The upper wing was raised on the "B" model by 8 in (20 cm) to reduce aerodynamic interference between the wings and improve cockpit visibility.[4]
Super Ag Cat B/525
The B/525 incorporated the design improvements of the B/450, but was powered by a Continental /Page R-975 engine.[6]
Super Ag Cat C/600
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 U.S. gallons (1,900 L; 420 imp gal) agricultural hopper. The model is powered by a 600 hp (450 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine.[6]
Turbo Ag Cat D/T
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).[6]
Turbo Ag Cat D/ST
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).[6]
Turbo Ag Cat D/SST
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).[6]
Ag Cat B-Plus/600
Introduced in 1982 the B-Plus/600 is powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 of 600 hp (450 kW). It has the larger hopper of the "C" model.[6]
Ag Cat B-Plus/450
Also made available for the first time in 1982, the lower-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.[6]
Marsh G-164 C-T Turbo Cat
This aftermarket conversion was created by replacing the engine of the Super Ag Cat C/600 with a Garrett TPE331-1-101 turboprop, derated to 600 hp (450 kW).[6]
Mid-Continent King Cat
This aftermarket 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).[6]
Twin Cat
An aftermarket conversion by Twin Cat Corporation,it relaces the R-1340 with two 360 hp (270 kW) Avco Lycoming TIO-540-J flat-six engines, close mounted to the sides of the forward fuselage. The prototype conversion flew in 1979, with conversion kits on sale from 1980.[9]
Ethiopian Airlines Eshet
License-built Ag Cat Super B Turbine with local content from 1986.[10]

Aircraft on display edit

Mississippi Ag Museum, Jackson, MS - G-164 Ag Cat, serial X-1

Specifications (G-164B Super B Turbine) edit

Data from Jane's Civil and Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994–95[11]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 400 US gal (333 imp gal; 1,514 L) in forward hopper
  • Length: 27 ft 7.25 in (8.4138 m)
  • Wingspan: 42 ft 4.5 in (12.916 m)
  • Height: 12 ft 1 in (3.68 m)
  • Wing area: 392.7 sq ft (36.48 m2)
  • Empty weight: 3,150 lb (1,429 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 7,020 lb (3,184 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG turboprop, 750 shp (560 kW)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 113 kn (130 mph, 209 km/h)
  • Stall speed: 56 kn (64 mph, 104 km/h)
  • Never exceed speed: 136 kn (157 mph, 252 km/h)
  • Range: 172 nmi (198 mi, 319 km)

See also edit

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References edit

  1. ^ a b Wood, Derek: Jane's World Aircraft recognition Handbook, page 460. Jane's Publishing, 1983. ISBN 0-7106-0202-2
  2. ^ a b Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (n.d.). "Grumman C-164 Ag-Cat". Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Schweizer, William: The Ageless Ag Cat: The Forty-year History of the Ag-Cat Agricultural Airplane, Rivilo Books, 1995 ISBN 0-9630731-1-7
  4. ^ a b c d Montgomery, MR & Gerald Foster: A Field Guide to Airplanes - Second Edition, page 14. Houghton Mifflin Publishing, 1992. ISBN 0-7232-3697-6
  5. ^ a b Federal Aviation Administration (February 2001). "Type Certificate Data Sheet No. 1A16" (PDF). Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Taylor John WR: Jane's Pocket Book Light Aircraft - Second Edition, page 215. Jane's Publishing Company, 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0195-6
  7. ^ "FAA Registry - Aircraft - Make / Model Inquiry". faa.gov. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  8. ^ "National Agricultural Aviation Association". agaviation.org. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  9. ^ Taylor 1980, p. 447.
  10. ^ Lambert 1994, p. 70
  11. ^ Michell 1994, pp. 398–399.
  • Lambert, Mark, ed. (1994). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1994-95. Coulsdon, Surrey, United Kingdom: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-1160-9.
  • Michell, Simon. Jane's Civil and Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994-95. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Information Group, 1994. ISBN 0-7106-1208-7.
  • Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1980). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1980-81. London: Jane's Publishing. ISBN 0-7106-7105-9.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grumman G-164 Ag-Cat.
  • Airliners.net: Grumman G-164 Ag Cat

April 12, 2024
grumman, grumman, single, engined, biplane, agricultural, aircraft, developed, grumman, 1950s, catag, 164brole, agricultural, aircraftmanufacturer, grummanfirst, flight, 1957, introduction, 1957, schweizer, ag164a, floats, contents, development, variants, airc. The Grumman G 164 Ag Cat is a single engined biplane agricultural aircraft developed by Grumman in the 1950s Ag CatAg Cat G 164BRole Agricultural aircraftManufacturer GrummanFirst flight 1957 1 Introduction 1957 1 Schweizer Ag Cat AG164A on floats Contents 1 Development 2 Variants 3 Aircraft on display 4 Specifications G 164B Super B Turbine 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksDevelopment editIn 1955 Grumman preliminary design engineers Joe Lippert and Arthur Koch proposed the design for a purpose built crop dusting airplane as a means of fulfilling a pressing need in the agricultural community as well as the perceived need for Grumman to diversify its product lines The initial market survey indicated that 100 to 200 of this type could be sold each year Lippert s initial proposal was made under the project name Farmair 1000 The first G 164 which was built by Grumman N74054 was equipped with a Continental W670 Series 6A 16 powerplant The aircraft had its maiden flight on May 27 1957 with Grumman test pilot Hank Kurt at the controls 2 3 This initial flight test consisted of three short familiarization hops with the take off weight set at 3122 lb and the center of gravity at 31 2 Flight tests 2 and 3 with test pilot Victor Eble were accomplished on May 28 1958 to evaluate its general flight characteristics In total 46 test flights were completed by the end of August 1958 with a general finding that this was a well behaved aircraft with only minor refinements needed before production When the decision was made to authorize production Leroy Grumman suggested marketing the aircraft under the name The Grasshopper however Dick Reade suggested Ag Cat following Grumman s naming tradition using the suffix cat in aircraft names e g F4F Wildcat and F6F Hellcat Mr Grumman agreed and the Grumman G 164 became the Ag Cat 3 Large military orders prevented the production of the Ag Cat at Grumman s Bethpage facility Grumman s board of directors chose to subcontract the entire program to the Schweizer Aircraft Corporation of Elmira New York Initial production was through a contract between Schweizer 4 and Grumman The first Schweizer built Ag Cat bearing registration number N10200 flew on October 17 1958 under the control of Schweizer test pilot Clyde Cook 3 Full production began in January 1959 with Schweizer delivering 12 FAA certified airplanes to Grumman by March 1959 The FAA granted type certification on January 20 1959 5 The ownership of the Ag Cat design has changed hands several times Grumman transferred ownership to its commercial aircraft subsidiary Grumman American in 1973 A market feasibility study for a new agricultural aircraft Ag Cat X was completed by Grumman American in 1976 This study indicated that potential market demand existed for more than 100 aircraft each year The study also showed that most of the concerns expressed by agricultural aircraft operators were addressed by the Ag Cat C model The Grumman American subsidiary which also owned the Grumman Gulfstream design series was sold to American Jet Industries in 1978 From initial production through 1981 Schweizer built 2 455 aircraft under contract 6 In 1981 Schweizer bought the rights to the design and continued production under the name Schweizer Ag Cat 4 Schweizer sold the design to Ag Cat Corp of Malden Missouri in 1995 Five model G 164B aircraft were produced and registered before Ag Cat Corp entered bankruptcy One additional aircraft a G 164BT500 is listed in the FAA registry as having been produced by Ag Cat Corp but no tail number was issued 7 This may have been an upgrade to an existing airframe In February 2001 the design was sold to Allied Ag Cat Productions Inc of Walnut Ridge Arkansas 5 Allied Ag Cat is 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 4 Lippert and Koch were recognized for their innovation in agricultural aircraft being awarded the Puffer Award by Delta Air Lines in 1974 8 Floats were approved for the aircraft in the early 1990s in Australia citation needed Variants edit nbsp An Ag Cat set up for wingwalking nbsp Grumman G 164A Ag Cat nbsp Australian registered G 164 Ag Cat configured for scenic flights nbsp A Grumman G 164 Ag Cat for agricultural use in VenezuelaAg Cat The basic model Ag Cat was certified with four different engines the 220 225 hp 164 168 kW Continental Motors radial engine the 240 hp 179 kW Gulf Coast W 670 240 radial engine the 245 hp 183 kW Jacobs L 4M or L 4MB radial engine and the 275 300 hp 205 224 kW Jacobs R 755 radial engine A total of 400 of this model was produced 6 Super Ag Cat A 450 The G 164A became the main model starting with serial number 401 This model featured a 450 hp 335 kW Pratt amp Whitney R 985 radial engine along with a higher gross weight increased fuel capacity larger diameter wheels and improved brakes 6 Super Ag Cat A 600 The A 600 incorporated the same improvements embodied in the A 400 but was powered by a Pratt amp Whitney R 1340 radial engine of 600 hp 450 kW 6 Super Ag Cat B 450 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 6 The upper wing was raised on the B model by 8 in 20 cm to reduce aerodynamic interference between the wings and improve cockpit visibility 4 Super Ag Cat B 525 The B 525 incorporated the design improvements of the B 450 but was powered by a Continental Page R 975 engine 6 Super Ag Cat C 600 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 U S gallons 1 900 L 420 imp gal agricultural hopper The model is powered by a 600 hp 450 kW Pratt amp Whitney R 1340 radial engine 6 Turbo Ag Cat D T The D model is similar to the C 600 but replaced the radial piston engine with a Pratt amp Whitney PT6A turboprop powerplant of 680 shp 507 kW 6 Turbo Ag Cat D ST The D ST model is identical to the Turbo Ag Cat D T but the engine was a Pratt amp Whitney PT6A turboprop powerplant of 750 shp 559 kW 6 Turbo Ag Cat D SST The D SST model is identical to the Turbo Ag Cat D T but is powered by a Pratt amp Whitney PT6A turboprop powerplant of 850 shp 634 kW 6 Ag Cat B Plus 600 Introduced in 1982 the B Plus 600 is powered by a Pratt amp Whitney R 1340 of 600 hp 450 kW It has the larger hopper of the C model 6 Ag Cat B Plus 450 Also made available for the first time in 1982 the lower powered B Plus 450 is powered by a Pratt amp Whitney R 985 of 450 hp 335 kW This model was available only as a custom order 6 Marsh G 164 C T Turbo Cat This aftermarket conversion was created by replacing the engine of the Super Ag Cat C 600 with a Garrett TPE331 1 101 turboprop derated to 600 hp 450 kW 6 Mid Continent King Cat This aftermarket conversion of the Super Ag Cat C 600 replaced the 600 hp 450 kW Pratt amp Whitney R 1340 engine with a Wright R 1820 202A radial engine that produces 1 200 hp 895 kW 6 Twin Cat An aftermarket conversion by Twin Cat Corporation it relaces the R 1340 with two 360 hp 270 kW Avco Lycoming TIO 540 J flat six engines close mounted to the sides of the forward fuselage The prototype conversion flew in 1979 with conversion kits on sale from 1980 9 Ethiopian Airlines Eshet License built Ag Cat Super B Turbine with local content from 1986 10 Aircraft on display editNational Air and Space Museum Steven F Udvar Hazy Center G 164A Super Ag Cat A 600 2 Mississippi Ag Museum Jackson MS G 164 Ag Cat serial X 1Specifications G 164B Super B Turbine editData from Jane s Civil and Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994 95 11 General characteristicsCrew 1 Capacity 400 US gal 333 imp gal 1 514 L in forward hopper Length 27 ft 7 25 in 8 4138 m Wingspan 42 ft 4 5 in 12 916 m Height 12 ft 1 in 3 68 m Wing area 392 7 sq ft 36 48 m2 Empty weight 3 150 lb 1 429 kg Max takeoff weight 7 020 lb 3 184 kg Powerplant 1 Pratt amp Whitney Canada PT6A 34AG turboprop 750 shp 560 kW Propellers 3 bladed constant speed propellerPerformance Maximum speed 113 kn 130 mph 209 km h Stall speed 56 kn 64 mph 104 km h Never exceed speed 136 kn 157 mph 252 km h Range 172 nmi 198 mi 319 km See also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Aero Boero 260AG Air Tractor AT 802 Auster Agricola Ayres Thrush Cessna 188 Emair MA 1 Embraer EMB 202 Ipanema PAC Cresco PAC Fletcher Piper PA 25 Pawnee PZL 106 Kruk Zlin Z 37 CmelakRelated lists List of civil aircraftReferences edit a b Wood Derek Jane s World Aircraft recognition Handbook page 460 Jane s Publishing 1983 ISBN 0 7106 0202 2 a b Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum n d Grumman C 164 Ag Cat Retrieved May 12 2010 a b c Schweizer William The Ageless Ag Cat The Forty year History of the Ag Cat Agricultural Airplane Rivilo Books 1995 ISBN 0 9630731 1 7 a b c d Montgomery MR amp Gerald Foster A Field Guide to Airplanes Second Edition page 14 Houghton Mifflin Publishing 1992 ISBN 0 7232 3697 6 a b Federal Aviation Administration February 2001 Type Certificate Data Sheet No 1A16 PDF Retrieved January 1 2011 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Taylor John WR Jane s Pocket Book Light Aircraft Second Edition page 215 Jane s Publishing Company 1982 ISBN 0 7106 0195 6 FAA Registry Aircraft Make Model Inquiry faa gov Retrieved August 10 2015 National Agricultural Aviation Association agaviation org Retrieved August 10 2015 Taylor 1980 p 447 Lambert 1994 p 70 Michell 1994 pp 398 399 Lambert Mark ed 1994 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1994 95 Coulsdon Surrey United Kingdom Jane s Information Group ISBN 0 7106 1160 9 Michell Simon Jane s Civil and Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994 95 Coulsdon UK Jane s Information Group 1994 ISBN 0 7106 1208 7 Taylor John W R ed 1980 Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1980 81 London Jane s Publishing ISBN 0 7106 7105 9 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grumman G 164 Ag Cat Airliners net Grumman G 164 Ag Cat Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Grumman Ag Cat amp oldid 1192861905, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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