The following words may contain hearsay. My definition of hearsay is information or gossip, usually told third hand that cannot be confirmed, and/or was not verified. I am about to pass on some hearsay to the readers of this paper.
I was stacking hay on a trailer in my barn when I heard the plane. It was 3 days after I had ordered fungicide to be applied to my wheat fields. The wheat was 2’ tall and planted in rows 8” wide. The only way to make any applications of pesticides without making tracks in my wheat fields was with an aerial application. The Sunday morning before Memorial Day was calm and quiet, that is until the yellow crop dusting plane arrived.
My neighbors and I were front and center for an impromptu air show. I always assumed that flying a crop duster is a dangerous job. But is it? I have never personally heard of a crop duster crashing nor have I ever seen a news report of such an occurrence.
When I submitted the map of my wheat field, I made certain to point out the woods on one side of the field as well as the high voltage electric transmission lines that went on a diagonal through the field. I made a video of the plane flying over my field and posted it on Facebook. Several people commented that they would like to ride in the plane. Is this even possible? I think the plane only has one seat.
I have never been able to talk to a crop duster pilot. They fly too fast and never land. Therefore everything I have been told has come from a third party, which constitutes hearsay. I was told once that the pilots couldn’t purchase life insurance because no company will write them a policy. I was told that they try to get as low as they can to do a better job. How low is low? I have also been told that when they spray cornfields they sometimes get tassels caught in the landing gear.
I have also been told that they will fly under power lines. I have confirmed that this is true since I saw it with my own eyes on Sunday. I wouldn’t want to ride in the plane with the pilot; if I really have a need to be thrilled I will get on a roller coaster again. However, I would love to someday hear them explain the intricacies of this fascinating job.
I have so many questions. How many gallons of product can the plane hold? How much does the plane cost? What is their airspeed? How much fuel do they burn an hour? Have they had any close calls? How does one train for this job? Why do we still call it crop dusting when they are using liquid now instead of dust?
Our county farm bureau has had some very interesting and entertaining speakers in years past on a myriad of different farm topics. Maybe someday soon our farm bureau will have a pilot do a presentation, and I will get the real answers to these questions. Then I can write about crop dusting again, and it will not be hearsay.
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