Air Tractor AT-802

Air Tractor AT-802 is a single-engine aircraft designed for agricultural applications and fire suppression missions, featuring a high payload capacity. Equipped with a P&W PT6A-65AG engine and a main tank capacity of 800 gallons, it is among the largest agricultural aircraft capable of being operated by a single pilot. Depending on cockpit and airframe configurations, it is classified as the AT-802A, AT-802AF, AT-802F, and AT-802 Fire Boss.

AT-802 (Anadolu Agency)

Development and Production

The development of the Air Tractor AT-802 was driven by the need for a high-capacity, single-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by the US-based Air Tractor company, the AT-802 was initially developed to perform agricultural spraying and fire suppression missions.

The AT-802A serves as the base model with a single-seat, land-based cockpit, while the version with a two-seat cockpit is designated as the AT-802. These models can be converted into fire suppression configurations as the AT-802AF and AT-802F. Amphibious variants used for firefighting, equipped with Wipaire Wipline floats, are known as the AT-802A Fire Boss and AT-802 Fire Boss.

The aircraft are manufactured in the United States, while fire suppression equipment is assembled in the town of Viver, Spain.

Technical Specifications

The Air Tractor AT-802 ranks among the largest single-engine aircraft in its class in terms of performance and capacity. It is powered by a P&W PT6A-65AG turboprop engine producing 1,295 horsepower. Equipped with a Hartzell HC-B5MP-3F/M11276NS propeller, the AT-802 has a maximum takeoff and landing weight of 7,257 kg. Its empty weight is 3,062 kg and its useful load capacity is 4,195 kg. The main tank capacity is 800 US gallons (3,028 litres), and the fuel capacity is 254 US gallons (961 litres).

The wingspan of the AT-802 is 18.04 metres and the wing area is 37.29 square metres. The main landing gear size is 11.00-12 and the tailwheel size is 17.5 x 6.25-6. The cruise speed at 8,000 feet altitude is 191 mph (166 knots), while the typical operating speed ranges between 113 and 139 knots. Its economic range reaches up to 982 kilometres. The stall speed with flaps extended at maximum weight is 79 knots and during landing is 54 knots. With a climb rate of 780 feet per minute, the takeoff distance at maximum weight is approximately 2,000 feet.

AT-802 (flickr)

Variants

The Air Tractor AT-802 is available in several variants tailored to mission requirements and operational environments.

Missions

The Air Tractor AT-802 is designed as a multi-role platform suitable for a variety of missions, with operational capabilities varying according to configuration:

• Fire Suppression: One of the most common uses of the AT-802. Land-based variants directly discharge fire retardants onto fire zones, while amphibious Fire Boss configurations can rapidly collect water from lakes, rivers or seas and respond to fires with minimal delay.

• Agricultural Applications: The AT-802 was originally developed for agricultural spraying and fertilization. Its high payload capacity enables efficient operations over large agricultural areas.

• Training and Surveillance: The two-seat AT-802 and AT-802F models can be used for pilot training and visual surveillance missions during operations.

International Use

The Air Tractor AT-802 is used by numerous countries for a range of public and private sector missions, with fire suppression being the primary application. Since 1992, more than 1,000 AT-802 series aircraft have been produced and are actively serving in diverse geographic regions.

AT-802 series aircraft operate in the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Sweden, Israel, Cyprus, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Greece and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Slovenia received two AT-802F models in 2023 and plans to convert them into amphibious configurations.

In Australia, Dunn Aviation, which operates primarily in the state of Western Australia, is one of the largest agricultural and firefighting operators using the AT-802 series extensively. The company’s fleet includes multiple AT-802 models, which are employed for agricultural spraying, firefighting, seeding, fertilization and environmental monitoring missions.

Usage in Türkiye

The Air Tractor AT-802 is used in Türkiye by the Directorate of Aviation of the General Directorate of Forestry for firefighting purposes. In 2023, Türkiye ordered a total of twenty AT-802F series firefighting aircraft. Under this order, fifteen aircraft were configured in the amphibious Fire Boss configuration and five in the land-based version. The aircraft are manufactured in the United States, with conversion to firefighting configuration carried out in the Spanish town of Viver. The first four aircraft were delivered in April 2023, with deliveries continuing in subsequent years to bring the fleet to eight aircraft. The configurations include the AT-802A Fire Boss, AT-802 Fire Boss, AT-802A, AT-802AF and AT-802F.

AT-802 Firefighting Aircraft Crash in Türkiye (2025)

Two AT-802 firefighting aircraft belonging to the General Directorate of Forestry departed from Çanakkale on Wednesday 12 November 2025 at 10:24 for Zagreb, Croatia, as part of scheduled maintenance activities. Due to weather conditions, both aircraft spent the night at Rijeka Airport in Croatia. The following day, Thursday 13 November 2025, the aircraft took off again from Rijeka at 17:38 Türkiye time heading toward Zagreb Airport but were forced to return due to adverse weather conditions. During the return flight, one aircraft landed safely at Rijeka Airport while communication with the other aircraft was lost at 18:25 Türkiye time.

Following the loss of communication, search and rescue operations coordinated with Croatian authorities located the wreckage of the missing aircraft near the town of Senj in Croatia. The pilot on board lost his life in the accident.