Agricultural Aircraft for Sale
Crop dusters and agricultural aircraft.
About Agricultural Aircraft for Sale
Agricultural aircraft are the most specialised aircraft in general aviation. They exist to do one job — distribute liquid or dry product onto a field at low altitude, in heat, in dust, often at the edge of legal weight — and they do it for thousands of hours a year in the hands of professional ag pilots. Everything about them is purpose-built: massive payload, low-speed handling, structural ruggedness, fast turn-around at the loading strip, and pilot ergonomics designed for an 80-hour week of crop spraying.
The market is dominated by two American manufacturers (Air Tractor in Olney, Texas; Thrush Aircraft in Albany, Georgia) plus the still-flying Grumman Ag Cat family from the 1950s–80s, the New Zealand-built Pacific Aerospace Cresco/Fletcher series, and the European M-18 Dromader and PZL families. Most ag aircraft are turbine-powered (Pratt PT6 dominant), though piston Pawnees and older Ag Cats still work in many parts of the world.
On MarketplaceAviation we list agricultural aircraft from operators, dealers and retiring ag pilots worldwide. Listings include hopper capacity, spray system type (boom configuration, atomiser brand), engine times and hot section status, total airframe hours and cycles, recent corrosion treatment history, and licence/certificate status — the data that defines value in the most commercial segment of GA.
Most popular models in this category
Air Tractor AT-402 / AT-502 / AT-602 / AT-802
The dominant ag aircraft family — turbine, 400–800 gallon hopper.
Thrush S2R-T34 / S2R-T660 / 510G
PT6 powered, single-cockpit, the Air Tractor's direct competitor.
Grumman G-164 Ag Cat (A/B/C)
The classic biplane ag aircraft — radial or turbine conversions.
Piper PA-25 Pawnee
Affordable piston ag plane — also widely used for glider towing.
Cessna AGtruck / AGwagon (AG)
Cessna's piston ag line — 188 series, simple and rugged.
PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader
Polish turbine ag with massive hopper — used in Europe and the Americas.
Pacific Aerospace Cresco / Fletcher
New Zealand turbine — popular in Oceania and Australia.
Embraer EMB-202 Ipanema
The only certified ethanol-powered aircraft — Brazilian ag standard.
What to verify before you buy
Total time, cycles and chemical exposure history
Ag aircraft accumulate hours faster than any other GA category — 600–900 hours a year is normal. They are also continuously exposed to corrosive agricultural chemicals. Verify total time, recent corrosion treatment, and ask for the operational history (rice, cotton, dry fertiliser are all different on the airframe).
Engine condition — PT6 specific
Pratt PT6 in ag service runs hard — high cycles, high temperatures, dust ingestion. Verify HSI status, last hot section findings, compressor wash history, and trend data. Hot section on an ag PT6 typically comes due every 1,500–3,000 hours and costs \$100,000–\$200,000.
Spray system configuration and condition
Boom configuration (wet vs dry), atomiser type (CP nozzles, Micronair AU rotary atomisers), gate-box and pump condition all matter. A complete, current spray system can add \$30,000–\$80,000 of value. A worn system means immediate refurbishment cost on top of acquisition.
Certification, licence and operator approval
Ag operations require commercial operator certificates (FAA Part 137 in the US, CAA Ag Operator Approval in the UK, ENAC commercial approval in Italy). Verify the aircraft is certified for ag use in your jurisdiction and that licences and approvals transfer or can be obtained.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an agricultural aircraft cost? +
A used Piper Pawnee or Grumman Ag Cat in flyable condition typically trades between \$50,000 and \$120,000. Mid-life Air Tractor AT-402 or AT-502 sits at \$300,000–\$650,000 depending on engine status. Late-model AT-602 / AT-802 reach \$800,000–\$2 million. New Air Tractor AT-802A from the factory lists above \$2.5 million.
What licence do I need to fly an agricultural aircraft commercially? +
In most countries, ag flying requires a commercial pilot certificate plus an agricultural rating or operator approval. In the US: commercial certificate + Part 137 operator certificate. In Europe: CPL + commercial ag-specific training. Insurance typically requires 500+ hours total time and prior ag time before quoting commercial operations.
Are ag aircraft difficult to fly? +
They are not difficult — they are specialised. The handling is straightforward (most are conventional tailwheel singles) but the operating environment is unforgiving. Low altitude, hot weather, heavy loads, narrow turns, wires, towers, trees, and 80-hour weeks define ag flying. The skill is in the spray pattern, the wind, the chemical, the field — not the aircraft itself.
Are agricultural aircraft listings free on MarketplaceAviation? +
Yes. Listing an ag aircraft is free worldwide with no commission on the sale. Detailed listings (hopper size, spray system, engine times, recent annual) get the best response from professional ag operators. Optional boosts increase visibility in this small but high-value buyer pool.