Wed, Dec 09, 2009
Crop Duster Powered By GE H80 Engine
A joint venture between Boschung Global AG and Inter Sinex AG of
Switzerland has signed as the launch customer for the Thrush 510
aerial applicator, a new, H80-powered, 510-gallon, 10,500-pounds
gross weight crop duster. The venture has plans to operate the
H80-powered Thrush 510 aircraft in Kazakhstan, which is the world's
seventh largest producer of grains and a major exporter of
wheat.
Thrush 510 File Photo
"The robust design of the Thrush 510 aircraft coupled with the
H80's power, performance and low maintenance requirements are an
ideal fit for our needs and the Kazakh agricultural market," said
Paul Boschung, President of Boschung Global. "We predict a growing
opportunity for modern agricultural aircraft in Kazakhstan and
neighboring countries. Our plan is to purchase additional aircraft
for this market in the future."
The H80 engine combines the robust turboprop design of the
highly successful M601 engine family with GE Aviation's modern 3D
aerodynamic design techniques and advanced materials. The resulting
technologies deliver more shaft-horsepower, improved engine fuel
efficiency and increased temperature margin, enabling Thrush 510
operators to carry larger loads in hot weather. The H80 engine
features an extended service life of 3,600 hours and 6,600 cycles
between overhauls.
Certification testing on the H80 is set to begin by year-end,
with engine certification expected in mid-2010. The new H80-powered
Thrush 510 is expected to gain certification from the FAA next
summer, with customer deliveries to follow.
With a hopper capacity of 510 gallons, a gross weight of 10,500
pounds, and the 800-shp H80 engine up front, the improved Thrush
510 is designed for superior performance for agricultural
operations. The Thrush features a 29,000-hour wing spar life with
no mandatory inspections of the wing spars. Additional features
include a tubular steel fuselage and cockpit roll cage, removable
fuselage skins and chromate-treated aluminum surfaces for corrosion
prevention -- all designed to maximize pilot safety, reduce
maintenance time and enhance aircraft productivity.
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