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- February 1, 2023
Thrush S2R-H80 for Sale — Piston-Powered Agricultural Aircraft
The Thrush S2R-H80 is a purpose-built single-engine agricultural aircraft powered by the Honeywell (formerly Lycoming) IO-720-D1CD flat-eight piston engine, delivering 400 horsepower in a proven, economical package that has served aerial applicators across the Americas for decades. As the piston-powered member of the Thrush family, the S2R-H80 offers operators who do not require turboprop performance a highly capable, lower acquisition cost alternative that maintains all of the structural integrity and spray system flexibility that have made the Thrush name synonymous with reliable agricultural aviation. Airplane Trade connects buyers and sellers of the Thrush S2R-H80 through a dedicated agricultural aircraft marketplace.
Lineage and Development
The S2R designation traces directly to the original Rockwell Commander Thrush of the early 1970s, and the basic airframe geometry — low wing monoplane with hopper forward of the cockpit, welded steel tube fuselage, and fixed tailwheel gear — has remained largely consistent through successive generations of refinement. The H80 variant specifically denotes the Honeywell/Lycoming IO-720 engine installation, which produces its rated 400 horsepower from a large-displacement eight-cylinder configuration that is naturally aspirated, mechanically straightforward, and highly amenable to field maintenance by agricultural aviation mechanics familiar with large Lycoming and Continental powerplants.
Thrush Aircraft, based in Albany, Georgia, has maintained continuous production and parts support for the S2R family through changes in corporate ownership, ensuring that operators of earlier and later S2R variants can access factory technical support, airworthiness documentation, and structural repair data. The broad fleet of S2R aircraft in service worldwide has generated an extensive network of experienced maintenance providers and a healthy used parts market that keeps operating costs manageable through the aircraft's long service life.
Performance Specifications — Thrush S2R-H80
- Engine: Honeywell IO-720-D1CD, 400 hp
- Hopper capacity: 310–400 US gallons (configuration dependent)
- Maximum takeoff weight: Approximately 8,000 lb
- Operating speed: 105–130 knots TAS at working altitude
- Ferry speed: Approximately 125–135 knots TAS
- Stall speed: Approximately 65–70 knots
- Fuel capacity: Approximately 76 US gallons standard
- Landing gear: Fixed tailwheel
- Primary structure: 4130 chrome-moly steel tube
Operational Advantages of the Piston S2R
The S2R-H80 occupies a specific and valuable niche in the agricultural aviation market. For operators working smaller fields, lower-volume applications, or regions where the economics of turboprop ownership cannot be justified by seasonal spray volume, the piston S2R offers a cost-effective entry point into the Thrush family with the same structural robustness and spray system flexibility as the more powerful turboprop variants. Fuel costs per hour are substantially lower than turboprop operations, and the IO-720 engine, while requiring careful management, is less costly to overhaul than PT6 family turboprops.
The aircraft's lower operating speed compared to turboprop Thrush variants is actually advantageous in some spray applications, particularly those requiring extended swath overlap accuracy or precise ground speed control for accurate pesticide or fertilizer application rates. The slower pattern speed also reduces pilot workload at short-field operations where turn radii and obstacle clearance are tight constraints.
Airframe and Systems
The S2R-H80 shares the fundamental structural philosophy of all Thrush aircraft: a welded 4130 chrome-moly steel tube primary structure that can be inspected and repaired with conventional equipment in the field, combined with corrosion-resistant hopper and spray plumbing components designed for long-term exposure to agricultural chemicals. Wire strike protection systems are standard, and the crashworthy fuel system design meets FAA requirements for occupant protection in survivable accidents. The tailwheel gear provides excellent propeller clearance over rough terrain and gives the aircraft the ability to operate from unprepared strips that would be inaccessible to nose-gear equipped competitors.
Spray system options for the S2R-H80 are extensive, encompassing conventional boom systems, rotary atomizer (micronair) installations, and dry spreaders for granular applications. Most operational aircraft have been fitted with agricultural GPS guidance systems — typically Satloc or AgNav units — that enable precise swath guidance, automatic boom section switching, and application rate control for regulatory compliance and chemical efficiency.
Maintenance and Parts Availability
The IO-720 engine is well-supported by Lycoming's overhaul network and a broad base of independent engine shops with experience on large flat-configuration Lycoming powerplants. TBO for the IO-720-D1CD is 1,800 hours, and mid-time engines or recently overhauled powerplants are regularly available on the used market at competitive prices. The Thrush airframe's steel tube structure has an essentially unlimited life when properly maintained and repaired, making the S2R-H80 a long-term asset for operators who commit to thorough annual inspection and corrosion prevention programs.
Buying a Thrush S2R-H80
When evaluating a Thrush S2R-H80 for purchase, focus on engine time since new or overhaul, cylinder compression history, and oil consumption trends as primary indicators of engine condition. Inspect the hopper and spray plumbing for chemical corrosion and wear, and verify that all Airworthiness Directives are current. Review the aircraft's operational history — hours flown per season, types of chemicals applied, and whether the aircraft has been operated under FAR Part 137 certification — to assess structural wear and maintenance quality. A pre-purchase inspection by an IA with agricultural aircraft experience is strongly recommended.
Find a Thrush S2R-H80 on Airplane Trade
Airplane Trade maintains listings for the Thrush S2R-H80 and related piston ag aircraft where buyers can find aircraft from working operators, estate liquidations, and agricultural aviation dealers. Our marketplace is purpose-built for the aerial application industry, connecting qualified buyers with detailed aircraft listings and direct seller contact. Whether you are entering agricultural aviation for the first time or adding a proven piston sprayer to an existing fleet, browse current S2R-H80 listings on Airplane Trade today.