From Olney to Oshkosh: Air Tractor expectations fly high for aviation event

Cecil Witherspoon, Wichita Falls Times Record News
·2 min read
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Air Tractor, an agricultural aviation manufacturer located in Olney, is showcasing its product a long way from the familiar fields of North Texas. One of the company’s aircraft is on display at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture 2022 Air Show, which is taking place in Oshkosh, Wisconsin through July 31.

Jim Hirsch, Air Tractor president, said the event offers an opportunity to provide information about Air Tractor to the aviation community. He said Air Tractor produces planes primarily for crop dusting and firefighting tasks.

“EAA AirVenture is the world’s greatest aviation celebration,” Hirsch said. “This event has been a highlight of ours for many years. It’s so much fun meeting aviation enthusiasts of all ages and visiting with them about what we do. They always ask great questions about the Air Tractor aircraft we bring here to Wittman Regional Airport. They’re fascinated with the idea of ‘crop dusting’ and learning about the role Air Tractor airplanes play in fighting wildfires around the world.”

Air Tractor is featuring a firefighting AT-802F single-engine air tanker, which will be shipped to Spain for firefighting at the conclusion of AirVenture 2022. Air Tractor is co-exhibiting alongside the National Agricultural Aviation Association at booth 446 at the event. Also featured in the display is a restored Snow Aeronautical model S-2A ag plane built in 1959. The S2-A was originally built by Leland Snow - the eventual founder of Air Tractor.

AirVenture will display the two planes alongside thousands of other planes during the event. EAA AirVenture is the largest aviation air show in the world, and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.

Hirsch said the event has something for everyone.

"If you don’t find something that excites you at this event, you may be immune to fun. And as always, we at Air Tractor and the NAAA are happy to visit with pilots interested in a career in our industry," Hirsch said.

For more information about EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022, visit eaa.org/airventure. For information about Air Tractor go to AirTractor.com. Go here to learn about the National Agricultural Aviation Association: agaviation.org.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Air Tractor expectations fly high for aviation event