Thrush Aircraft Thrush 510g

Single Turboprop

The Thrush 510G is a purpose-built agricultural aircraft manufactured by Thrush Aircraft in Albany, Georgia, representing the turboprop evolution of a lineage that traces back to the 1950s Rockwell Thrush Commander. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG turbine producing 750 shaft horsepower, the 510G is designed specifically for aerial application work—crop dusting, fertilizing, and pest control—with a robust airframe capable of operating from short, unprepared strips in demanding agricultural environments. Its low-wing configuration and reinforced structure allow it to carry chemical payloads of up to 510 gallons (hence the model designation), making it one of the most capable single-engine ag-planes in production. The aircraft's operating envelope reflects its specialized mission: a never-exceed speed of 174 knots and normal operating speed of 145 knots provide adequate performance for application passes while maintaining structural integrity during the repetitive pull-ups and tight turns characteristic of aerial application. The stall speeds—58 knots in landing configuration and 65 knots clean—enable slow, controlled passes over fields at typical application altitudes of 5 to 15 feet above crop canopy. The PT6A turbine offers significant advantages over piston-powered ag-planes, including better hot-and-high performance, reduced maintenance, and the ability to burn Jet-A fuel, which is more widely available and safer to handle than avgas in remote agricultural operations. SkyMeter has tracked 10 flights across 3 airframes and 3 operators, with HAMMOND ROBERT D the largest observed operator.