Air Tractor At-402b

Single Turboprop

The Air Tractor AT-402 is a purpose-built agricultural aircraft manufactured by Air Tractor Inc. in Olney, Texas, designed specifically for crop dusting, aerial application, and firefighting missions. First introduced in the 1990s as an evolution of the company's earlier piston-powered designs, the AT-402 brought turboprop reliability and power to the agricultural aviation market with its Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engine. The aircraft's rugged construction, low-wing monoplane configuration, and large hopper capacity make it ideal for precision chemical application over fields and forests. With a maximum takeoff weight of 16,000 pounds and a hopper capacity of up to 400 gallons, the AT-402 can carry substantial payloads of liquid or dry materials while maintaining excellent low-speed handling characteristics essential for agricultural work. The aircraft operates comfortably at airspeeds between 90 and 130 knots during application runs, with a never-exceed speed of 174 knots and a stall speed around 58 knots in landing configuration. Its PT6A turboprop provides approximately 750 shaft horsepower, delivering the thrust needed for heavy loads and hot-and-high operations common in agricultural aviation. The AT-402 series has become a workhorse in aerial application fleets worldwide, valued for its combination of payload capacity, operational economy, and maintainability. Air Tractor continues to manufacture the type alongside newer models, and the aircraft remains popular for both agricultural spraying and firefighting roles, where its ability to carry large volumes of water or retardant proves invaluable. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.