The Air Tractor AT-400 is a family of agricultural aircraft that first flew in the United States in September 1979. Type certification was awarded to Air Tractor in April 1980. Of low-wing monoplane taildragger configuration, they carry a chemical hopper between the engine firewall and the cockpit.

AT-400 family
An AT-402 in operation, spraying a field in Washington State
General information
TypeAgricultural aircraft
ManufacturerAir Tractor
StatusActive, in production
History
Manufactured1979-present
Introduction date1980
First flight1979
An AT-400 on the runway

Variants

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  • AT-400 - AT-301 with 680 shp (507 kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-15AG engine and 400 US gal (1,510 L) hopper. Short-span (45 ft 1¼ in (13.75 m)) wings.[1] 72 built.[2]
  • AT-400A - AT-400 with 550 hp (410 kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 engine.[1] 14 built.[2]
  • AT-401 - AT-301 with longer-span wings and 400 US gal (1,510 L) hopper, powered by 600 hp (447 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine.[3] 168 built.[2]
  • AT-401A - AT-401 with PZL-3S engine. One built.[2]
  • AT-401B -Improved revision of AT-401, with revised wingtips and further increased span (51 ft 1¼ in (15.57 m)). 69 built by December 2001.[2]
  • AT-402 - AT-401 with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-15 engine.[3] 68 built.[2]
  • AT-402A - low cost version of AT-401B, with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 engine.[2] 103 built by December 2001.[2]
  • AT-402B - improved version of AT-402, with revised wingtips and increased span of AT-401B.[2] 31 built by December 2001.[2]

Aircraft on display

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AT-400A N3159D on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Specifications (AT-401)

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Data from Janes's All The World's Aircraft 1993-94.[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 400 US gal (330 imp gal; 1,500 L) hopper
  • Length: 27 ft 0 in (8.23 m)
  • Wingspan: 49 ft 1+14 in (14.97 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
  • Wing area: 294.0 sq ft (27.31 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 8.20:1
  • Airfoil: NACA 4415
  • Empty weight: 4,135 lb (1,876 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 7,860 lb (3,565 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine, 600 hp (450 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 156 mph (251 km/h, 136 kn) at sea level
  • Cruise speed: 120–140 mph (190–230 km/h, 100–120 kn) (typical working speed)
  • Stall speed: 61 mph (98 km/h, 53 kn) at 6,000 lb (2,700 kg) (max. landing weight) (flaps down)
  • Range: 630 mi (1,010 km, 550 nmi)
  • Rate of climb: 1,100 ft/min (5.6 m/s)

See also

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Related development

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Taylor 1988, p. 323
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Jackson 2003, p. 507
  3. ^ a b c Lambert 1993, pp. 412–413
  4. ^ "Air Tractor AT-400A "Dusty Crophopper" | National Air and Space Museum". airandspace.si.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-13.

Bibliography

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  • Jackson, Paul, ed. (2003). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.
  • Lambert, Mark, ed. (1993). Jane's All The Worlds Aircraft 1993–94. Coudsdon, UK: Janes's Data Division. ISBN 0-7106-1066-1.
  • Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. pp. 31–32.
  • Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1988). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsden, UK: Jane's Defence Data. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.
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