Georgia manufacturer completes aircraft for delivery to eight countries on four continents – and more – for strong start to the year.
(Albany, GA) As outside temperatures warm, maintenance checks are getting completed and spray nozzles calibrated, as another spring spray season is getting underway in the deep South. In the heart of it all, Thrush Aircraft of Albany, Georgia, has just wrapped-up a record first quarter for the company. Thrush completed deliveries of eight aircraft across four continents in Q1 – including North America, South America, Asia and Europe.
“To be honest, we didn’t realize how strong these first few months had been until we stepped back a few days ago and realized all that had been accomplished,” said Eric Rojek, vice president of Thrush. “It’s a testament to the folks here at the factory who go above and beyond normal industry expectations each and every day,” he continued.
Highlights of Thrush’s first quarter deliveries included the first 510G Switchback to Canada where it will be assuming firefighting duties in Manitoba. And the first of several planned Thrush 510G’s to Russia – where it is widely believed to be the first modern U.S. agricultural aircraft ever delivered to that country.
However, Thrush’s first quarter good news didn’t stop with deliveries – as the company celebrated several additional high points, beginning with multiple orders from Costa Rica, Columbia, Ecuador, Spain, Canada and, of course, the United States.
Also, as several of these new orders attest, interest in the Thrush 710P, which was re-introduced in 2018, continues to be strong. And flight testing and certification of the new Thrush 710P Fire Bird continues as well – and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year. At the same time, pilot and maintenance training programs are in full-swing at Thrush’s factory Training Center, with slots continuing to be in high demand.
And, as the first quarter of the New Year drew to a close, Thrush moved into the global aviation spotlight with a feature story in FLYING magazine. FLYING, which has a global readership of nearly 200,000, flight-tested the 510G Switchback firefighter and explored its role with Georgia Forestry – which operates two of the new aircraft. The story also highlighted agricultural aviation and its critical role in feeding the world. The April issue of FLYING, featuring the Thrush story, will be on newsstands this week.
“From a record number of countries flying and ordering our aircraft, to the 510G Switchback going to work, to getting a positive message about ag aviation out to the readers of FLYING magazine – it’s be a pretty amazing first quarter by any measure,” said Mr. Rojek. “And perhaps the best news is that early indicators are pointing to Q2 being every bit as strong,” he continued. “Hats off to our team here at the factory for all the hard work and, most important, to our customers – without whom none of our success would be possible” he concluded.
About Thrush Aircraft Company
Headquartered in Albany, Georgia, Thrush Aircraft manufactures a full range of aerial application aircraft used in agriculture, forestry and firefighting roles worldwide. Founded in 2003, Thrush is well-known for building the most durable aircraft in the aerial application industry, as well as the best flying – from both pilot and operator perspectives. All Thrush models provide superb visibility, light control response, and a high degree of maneuverability and speed, along with superior efficiency and low direct operating costs. Today there are more than 2,400 Thrush aircraft operating in some 80 countries around the world.
