History of Agricultural Aviation Reveals a Series of Turning Points

Industry’s growth has been marked by interesting watershed moments.

Monday, October 31, 2022 at 04:04 PM ET

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Agricultural aviation has evolved from a seat-of-the-pants flying job to a high-tech, precision industry. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Agricultural aviation, or crop dusting, originated in 1921 in Ohio with an experimental flight to combat a moth infestation, rapidly growing into an industry that fostered specialized companies, including one that eventually evolved into Delta Air Lines.
The industry experienced significant growth and standardization post-WWII with surplus aircraft, leading to the development of distinctive aircraft designs, higher reliability standards, the formation of the NAAA, and the integration of turbine engines.
Modern agricultural aviation was transformed by technological advancements like GPS, which dramatically improved accuracy, and is now focusing on efficiency, sustainability, and the expanding role of unmanned aircraft systems (drones).

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On August 3, 1921, a Curtiss JN-6 “Jenny” took off from the now defunct McCook Field in Dayton, Ohio, and headed to the nearby town of Troy, where an infestation of catalpa sphinx moths threatened to destroy a grove of catalpa trees. The trees were valuable for their wood, which made good railroad ties, telephone poles, and fence posts.

John Macready, an Army test pilot who flew fighters in World War I, was at the controls. In the rear cockpit was Etienne Dormoy, a research engineer with the Army Signal Corps who had modified the Jenny for this experimental assignment.