Is agricultural aircraft used in Great Britain?

[MacRat]

Hi all
Just had one of my random thoughts for a possible cameo of a small aircraft parked next to a railway line. Now, I couldn't find any reference that aircraft is used for agriculture in UK at all, right?

I had a scene like this next to the railway line in mind. 
https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1422506

Cheers

[RailGooner]

Indeed aircraft are used in the UK. Helicopters are a popular vector. Bing is your friend:

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=aerial+crop+spraying+uk&FORM=HDRSC2

http://www.heliair.com/aerial-application/

http://mdairservices.com/about/

[Newportnobby]

An alternative could be a film crew ready to make a movie about the railway as they did in the days of the British Transport Films. The plane would need the capability of being slow enough to maintain distance to the trains.

[MacRat]

Thanks RailGooner,
I didn't look for helicopters and I see way they are preferred over fixed wings in uk. That HeliAir Bell 47 looks nice, but in no way can I reproduce that glass ball cockpit in model form. 
Thanks for the answers.

[bluedepot]

How about an airfield with a grass runway - maybe gliders being towed up, or parachutists...



Tim

[Snowwolflair]

An alternative could be a film crew ready to make a movie about the railway as they did in the days of the British Transport Films. The plane would need the capability of being slow enough to maintain distance to the trains.

You want a DH 89A DRAGON RAPIDE for this.  Here is a kit in 1/144 if you can find one.

http://www.kingkit.co.uk/product/aeroclub-aircraft-1-144-k610bea-dh-89a-dragon-rapide

[The Q]

If you are meaning crop spraying aircraft they are illegal in the UK, this place is just too crowded for them to be safely used. Not just from the point of flight, but spraying people / houses/ cars . Would not be too popular...
We get enough overspray when they  are just trundling up and down the field alongside in a tractor......

[daffy]

I think the law banning aerial crop spraying came into effect in 1984, so if your layout is pre-1984 era a crop spraying aircraft is definitely okay.

I'm sure I  remember seeing a Piper Pawnee aircraft doing the spraying (or maybe it was dusting) around Northamptonshire in my younger days.

[colpatben]

How about an airfield with a grass runway - maybe gliders being towed up,
Tim

Winch, Bungee, Auto-tow launching, just a narrow strip of land with a downward slope. No powered tugs require.

[Stuart7358]

Sorry to disagree with you but aerial application in the UK is still allowed (2017), but it is very heavily restricted now, an application has to be submitted to the CRD (part of HSE) and approved by them. You have to prove this is the only viable application method and there are only three pesticides (2017) approved for use by this method.

I would say it would make a good cameo with a helicopter or fixed wind aircraft. Although they may take off from a grass strip they would be filled on a concrete pad with drain to a sump. They would be filled from a tank or bowser - not mains. Don't forget pesticides would have to be securely stored - often in metal containers or a small store.   

Hope this is of help.

[RailGooner]

Quite right Stuart. Aerial spraying is permitted in the UK but is, as you correctly say, tightly regulated:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pesticides/topics/using-pesticides/general/aerial-spraying.htm


@Stuart7358

[RailGooner]

If your dead set on a crop spraying cameo, this could make a good base for bashing a fixed-wing sprayer:

https://www.1001modelkits.co.uk/zlin-z-50-model-kit/273413-jbr-decals-jbr744002-zlin-z-50ls-foreign-users-incl-pe-fret-with-details-and-decals-for-2-x-us-and-1x-south-african-aircraftres.html


For a rotary-wing sprayer, you could bash something from this perhaps:

https://www.1001modelkits.co.uk/ship-model-kits/221826-revell-rv05139-eidechse-german-lsm-class-4009803051390.html


For a small grass strip airfield search for '1/144' at www.1001modelkits.co.uk and you'll find loads of options. Not cheap mind.


@MacRat

[MacRat]

I'm not set on anything. 
Wanted to investigate that potential idea when it crossed my mind.
I really appreciate all the answers. I learned something new.

[PostModN66]

You could have an air ambulance or police helicopter with the rotors turning...easier if it is on the ground as you can have the drive shaft for the rotor coming up through the baseboard, but you can squeeze a motor in to the chopper itself...

Cheers Jon 

[javlinfaw7]

What era is your railway set?