(Albany, GA) – Thrush Aircraft announced this week that the Federal Aviation Administration has issued Type Certification for the dual cockpit version of the Thrush 510G, which is powered by the new GE H80 turboprop engine. The dual cockpit aircraft’s certification comes hot on the heels of certification of the single cockpit 510G, which was awarded in October of last year.
The specifications and flight characteristics of the dual cockpit 510G are virtually identical to the single-cockpit version – but it has the added ability to carry up to 200 lbs of cargo, equipment, or even an additional pilot or observer in the rear seat. Accordingly, the aft cockpit of the dual cockpit 510G can be equipped with full flight controls and avionics, including the MVP-50 digital display unit.
“The dual cockpit 510G is a workhorse of an airplane” said Payne Hughes, president of Thrush Aircraft, “and we’re seeing it used for everything from carrying growers up for a bird’s eye view of their fields, to ferrying crew members to remote locations, to flight training.” He continued, “And, with the new GE H80 engine up front, I anticipate it will become one of our best selling airplanes.”
The new dual cockpit 510G is, indeed, proving to be extremely popular with customers and, with certification in hand, initial deliveries are now underway. Notable among these deliveries is a 20-aircraft order for the dual cockpit 510G from China, where they will be put to work on behalf of Heilongjiang State Farms, located in Jiamusi. Six aircraft will be delivered for the 2013 spray season there, and the first three of those are already on their way across the Pacific at this time.
Brazil is also anticipated to be a strong market for the new dual cockpit 510G, and certification work is now underway in that country, following certification last month of the single cockpit 510G by the civil aviation authorities there. Thrush expects to deliver a total of 18 dual cockpit 510G’s worldwide this year – which represents roughly 30% of the company’s annual production.
About Thrush Aircraft Company
Headquartered in Albany, Georgia, Thrush Aircraft manufactures a full range of aerial application aircraft used in agriculture, forestry and fire fighting roles worldwide. Founded in 2003, Thrush is well-known for building the most durable aircraft in the aerial application industry, as well as the best flying – from both pilot and operator perspectives. All Thrush models provide superb visibility, light control response, and a high degree of maneuverability and speed, along with
superior efficiency and low direct operating costs. Today there are more than 2,000 Thrush aircraft operating in some 80 countries around the world.
About the new GE H-80 turbine engine
The H80 turbine engine is built by GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric. The H80 combines the robust design of GE’s highly regarded M601 engine family, with 3-D aerodynamic design techniques and advanced materials to create a more powerful, fuel-efficient, durable engine compared with the original M601. In addition, the H80 requires with no recurrent fuel nozzle inspections and no hot section inspection. The H80 engine will also feature an
extended service life of 3,600 flight-hours or 6,600 cycles between overhauls. There are more than 1,600 GE M601 engines in service today, in business and general aviation, and these engines have accumulated a more than 17 million flight hours to date.
