Leland Snow, now President of Air Tractor Inc., established the Snow Aeronautical Company in 1955 to manufacture and develop an agricultural aircraft of his own design. He was almost certainly better equipped than most to create a new and efficient 'agplane', for several years of experience as an agpilot had provided an acute appreciation of some of the shortcomings of existing aircraft within this category. The Snow S-2A and S-2B received certification on 2 April 1958 and 29 July 1959 respectively, and were followed by improved S-2Cs before this company was acquired by Rockwell Standard Corporation in 1965.

Subsequently, Leland Snow established Air Tractor Inc. to manufacture a new agricultural aircraft derived from the S-2B. Designated Model AT-301 Air Tractor, a prototype/pre-production example flew for the first time in September 1973. This cantilever low-wing monoplane is of all-metal construction, except that the conventional tail unit has fabric-covered control surfaces. The wing incorporates large Fowler-type trailing-edge flaps to simplify short-field operations, and extensive care has been taken to ensure that the fuselage structure is adequately sealed to prevent the ingress of corrosive chemicals. Similarly, the pilot's enclosed cabin is sealed, and uncontaminated fresh air ventilation provided. Fixed tailwheel landing gear includes rugged cantilever main units, and power is provided by an uncowled Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine. Agricultural provisions comprise a 1211-litre chemical hopper and a 72-nozzle spraybar as standard. A spreader for dry chemicals is optional.

Variants

Model AT-302 Air Tractor: a turboprop-powered version of the AT-301, first flown in June 1977; powerplant consists of one 447kW Avco Lycoming LTP 101-600A1A; maximum level speed 274km/h; maximum cruising speed 266km/h, range with maximum fuel 644km; empty weight 1474kg spray gear equipped; maximum take-off weight 2994kg; length 8.99m

Model AT-302A Air Tractor: generally similar to the Model AT-302, but incorporating a 1514-litre chemical hopper to allow for economic dispersal of dry chemicals at high application rates; maximum takeoff weight 3266kg

Model AT-400 Air Tractor: a version of the Model 302A with a more powerful engine, consisting of a 507kW Pratt & Whitney Aircraft of Canada PT6A-15AG turboprop.

3-View

A three-view drawing (1206 x 1386)