Transavia Airtruk handling display - Bicentennial Airshow

Designed by Luigi Pellarini, Transavia built these in Western Sydney during the '70's and '80's. One looks great in Mad Max 3: Beyond the thunderdome. Looks odd, but flies well. This was filmed at the Bicentennial Airshow in 1988 at Richmond RAAF Base, New South Wales.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• planesounds
• crop sprayer
• crop duster
• agplane
• Luigi Pellarini
• Transavia Airtruk
• Airtruck
• RAAF Richmond
• Bicentennial Airshow
• Campbell Sharp
• aviation

[TheMsdos25]

the worlds ugliest plane that is airworthy

[planesounds]

@TheMsdos25 Ugly, yes, but I believe a delight to fly (good control harmony) and efficient in use. I think that the film to check it out in is "Mad Max 2, Beyond Thunderdrome." The bizarre looks were what got it into that movie.

[hodgejr]

Hey that sounds like an IO-720 8-banger under the hood, am I right?

[planesounds]

@hodgejr I understand that the T400 (with the IO-720) was in certification in 1988, so you could be right. I'm surprised no one has picked up that this is actually a Skyfarmer and not actually an Airtruk (nose gear is the giveaway), but more people know the Airtruk. Maybe someone who worked with the machine is out there and can give us some more info.

[juzzi07]

mate i'm really enjoying your uploads...i had no idea the Airtruk was built in Western Sydney. I first saw it at Schofields '85 - i was 6 years old...brings back the memories.

[planesounds]

@juzzi07 Glad that you like them. Helps keep me motivated... There will be a few more from the Bicentennial Airshow. Just got to sort that out. Just at Temora now. Hope to get something good to share. Got some great sounds.

[chokengku]

Greats memories to see this nice-odd bird. Its bring back me to late 70's, where this bird was used for palm oil aerial spraying in my country.

[TheOongaboonga]

It must be a rush to fly one of these.

[agman4360]

@planesounds Hi guy's,yes this is powered by the IO-720 of 400hp,a development of the 300hp skyfarmer to increase capacity,there were 4 built with 3 going to china and there is still 1 operating with Steve death at hazzair in albury NSW very cool machine,the weight of the conversion outweighed the increase in capacity so hence the limited production,i understand that the 400hp skyfarmers in china are no longer flying and at least one was written off