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 stretching back to the 1950s Ayres Thrush and original Snow S-2. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG flat-rated to 750 shaft horsepower, the 510G combines brute low-altitude performance with modern avionics and a reinforced airframe designed to withstand the punishing duty cycle of aerial application: crop dusting, fertilizer spreading, and fire suppression work that demands repeated heavy-weight takeoffs from short dirt strips and sustained low-level maneuvering in turbulent air. With a maximum takeoff weight of 9,700 pounds and a hopper capacity exceeding 500 gallons, the 510G can carry substantial chemical or retardant payloads while maintaining the short-field performance critical to agricultural operations. The aircraft's stall speed in landing configuration sits around 58 knots, enabling safe operation from remote farm strips, while its never-exceed speed of 174 knots and normal operating limit of 145 knots provide adequate transit speed between fields. The cockpit is positioned high and forward for excellent visibility during low passes, and the airframe incorporates corrosion-resistant materials to survive constant exposure to agricultural chemicals. The Thrush 510G competes directly with the Air Tractor AT-502 and AT-602 in the North American ag-aviation market, where turbine power has largely displaced radial piston engines due to superior reliability, fuel efficiency, and reduced maintenance. Operators prize the type for its rugged construction, parts commonality with earlier Thrush models, and the PT6's legendary durability in harsh environments. While unglamorous compared to sleek business turboprops, the 510G represents highly specialized engineering: an aircraft optimized not for speed or altitude, but for carrying heavy loads at treetop height, day after day, across the agricultural heartland. SkyMeter has tracked 20 flights across 12 airframes and 12 operators, with SNYDER RONALD L the largest observed operator.