An Overview
Air Tractor's 147,000 square foot manufacturing facility is located on the Olney Municipal Airport, Olney, Texas. Plant #1 (front), houses the weld shop, paint department and assembly lines for the 400 and 500 series aircraft. Plant #2 (middle), contains the Fabrication shop, Control Surfaces construction, paint department, and AT-602 assembly line. Plant #3 (back), is for the AT-802 assembly line and machine shop.
The Beginnings of An Airplane
The "skin and bones" of the airplane: 4130N chrome-moly tubing is cut to length...
The Weld Shop
Tubing is fitted and welded in a jig then removed for finish welding. After completion, the inside of the tubes are oiled for corrosion resistance and to locate any pinholes in the welds.
Fabrication
The Fab Shop, where flat sheet metal is turned into airplane parts.
Computerized punch machine does away with templates and hand drilling.
Machine Shop
Air Tractor's machine shop utilizes six CNC mills (including 5-axis vertical and horizontal mills), three CNC lathes, three surface grinders, a gear shaper, gear grinder, and more.
Sub-Assembly
In the Sub-Assembly Department, small parts are assembled into build-ups that are ready to go into the plane.
Inspection
Inspection is done as material is received, parts are made, and airplanes are assembled.
Wings
All three buildings have a wing shop where spars and wings are assembled in jigs.
Control Surfaces
All-metal control surfaces (ailerons, flaps, horizontal and vertical tail surfaces) are constructed in Plant #2 for all aircraft models.
Painting
Paint and prep facilities are located in both Plant #1 and #2. Aluminum parts are washed and chemically treated. Steel parts are sandblasted prior to being primed and painted.
Assembly
Painted fuselage frame is ready for skin fitting.
The Finished Product
After the finished airplane is test flown, licensed, and paid for, it is ready to go to work for a professional aerial applicator helping to feed the world!