Air Tractor AT-802

AT-802
Air Tractor AT-802
Role	Agricultural / Fire-fighting aircraft
National origin	United States
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 35 US gallons (130 L) foam 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

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.

Ten AT-802U were converted by Iomax into an armed configuration with Roketsan Cirit 2.75" rockets and guided bombs ^[8] for the UAE Air Force. The UAE operated them until November 2015^[8] when they were replaced by the first three of 24 Archangels on order from Iomax.^[9] The Archangel is based on a similar cropduster airframe, that of the Thrush Model 660,^[10] however to create the Archangel the basic Model 660 undergoes a much more extensive rebuild in the course of its militarization. Six of the UAE AT-802Us were transferred to the Jordanian Air Force.^[11] with a further three being transferred to the Yemeni Government Forces where they have been used in the 2015 Yemeni Civil War.^[8] Reports place Emirati aircraft in Libya flown by contract pilots.^[12]

In January 2017, the US State Department approved a deal for twelve AT-802 aircraft for the Kenya Defence Forces,^[13] although as of June 2017 a contract for the proposed sale had not been signed.^[14]

Variants

The AT-802L Longsword at Paris Air Show 2017

• 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^[15]
• AT-802F or AT-802AF - An aerial firefighting model 802 equipped with the Air Tractor Computerized Firegate^[16] designed/developed/serviced by Trotter Controls Inc.^[17]
  • Fire Boss - AT-802F equipped with Wipaire amphibious floats for operations from land or water
• AT-802L Longsword - An ISR and light-attack aircraft based on AT-802U, which developed by L3 Platform Integration collaboration with Air Tractor.^[18] L3 rebranded it as OA-8 Longsword for Asia-Pacific region.^[19]

Operators

Civil

The aircraft is popular with aerial application operators.

Military and government

Montenegrin police AT-802A Fire Boss

Israeli AT-802F in a firefighting drill

 Argentina

• Córdoba Province - Fire-fighting

 Brazil

• Military Firefighters of Distrito Federal
• Military Firefighters of Mato Grosso

 Burkina Faso

• Military of Burkina Faso 1 AT-802^[20]

 Canada

• Air Spray
• Conair Group
• Government of Northwest Territories^[21]

 Chile

• National Forestry Corporation - 3 AT-802F ^[22]

 Croatia

• Croatian Air Force - 5 AT-802A Fire Boss + 1 AT-802F as of November 2014^[23][24]

 Egypt

• Egyptian Air Force - 12 AT-802U (acquired from the UAE in 2016)^[25][26]

 Gambia

• Military of Gambia^[27]

 Israel

• Israeli Air Force - 14 AT-802F (of which 2 are Fire Boss)^[28][29]

 Italy

• Protezione Civile - 10 AT-802A Fire Boss

 Jordan

• Jordanian Air Force^[30]

 Macedonia

• Protection and Rescue Directorate of the Republic of Macedonia - 3 AT-802A Fire Boss

 Spain

• Ministry of Environment (CEGISA) - 3 AT-802A^[31]
• Avialsa T35 - 15 AT-802 + 14 AT-802F ^[32]

 Yemen

• Yemeni Air Force^[33]

 Kenya

• Kenya Defence Forces — 12^{[34][35][36][37][38][39]}

 Indonesia

• PT Pertamina^[40]

Former operators

 UAE

• United Arab Emirates Air Force - 24 IOMAX AT-802i BPA^[41]

Specifications (AT-802)

Three Croatian AT-802F Fire Bosses

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004^[42]

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-67AG turboprop, 1,350 hp (1,007 kW)

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)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Ayres Thrush
• Cessna 188
• Grumman AgCat
• Piper PA-25 Pawnee
• PZL-106 Kruk
• PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader

Related lists

• Basler BT-67

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air Tractor AT802.

• http://www.airtractor.com/
• http://www.airtractoreurope.com/
• airliners.net
• http://802u.com/
• http://trottercontrols.com