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 rugged 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 13 flights across 2 airframes and 2 operators, with HAMMOND ROBERT D the largest observed operator.