Grumman G-164 Ag-Cat

Single Piston

The Grumman Ag-Cat is one of the most recognizable agricultural aircraft in American aviation history, distinguished by its rugged biplane configuration and powerful radial engine mounted on a tubular steel fuselage. First flown in 1957, the Ag-Cat was purpose-built for crop dusting and aerial application work, with a design emphasizing pilot visibility, structural strength for low-altitude maneuvering, and the ability to operate from rough farm strips. The Super Ag-Cat variants introduced in the 1960s and 1970s featured larger hoppers, more powerful engines up to 600 horsepower, and improved spray systems, making them workhorses of American agriculture for decades. The biplane layout provides exceptional slow-flight handling and allows the aircraft to pull high-G turns while dispensing chemicals at treetop level—capabilities that made it a favorite among ag pilots despite the advent of more modern monoplane designs. Grumman built over 2,400 Ag-Cats before production ended in 1979, though many remain in service today, prized for their reliability and straightforward maintenance. The type's robust construction and forgiving flight characteristics have also made it popular for aerobatic displays and warbird collections, where its classic radial engine sound and open-cockpit variants evoke the golden age of biplane aviation. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.