Thrush Aircraft has launched a new marketing campaign aimed at building awareness about the benefits of agricultural aviation. The Albany, Ga.-based manufacturer created the “Ag Aviation – Feeding the World” campaign to share with growers, operators and prospective pilots the increasing importance of the ag aviation industry—not only in terms of improved crop performance, but also as a career opportunity for pilots.

 

 

The “Feeding the World” campaign will debut at EAA AirVenture 2016 in Oshkosh, Wis., next week at NAAA’s exhibit space. NAAA will be exhibiting at AirVenture July 25–31 and has partnered with Air Tractor, Thrush and Flying Tiger Aviation for this year’s exhibit. The purpose of the joint AirVenture exhibit is to bring more awareness to careers in the aerial application industry, a mission Thrush has embraced wholeheartedly.

 

 “Ag aviation will not continue to prosper as an industry, long-term, if we don’t get more people aware of its benefits—and of its importance to increasing crop yields for farmers around the world,” Thrush Aircraft President Payne Hughes said. “Population growth combined with economic challenges is putting tremendous pressure on farmers right now to produce more from the ground they have—and ag aviation can help. Coupled with this of course, is the clear fact that we need more pilots to join the industry and make it a career.” 

 

AirVenture is the world’s largest airshow and represents the first stop on Thrush’s Ag Aviation – Feeding the World Summer Tour. A new, dual-cockpit 510G will be used to give hands-on flight demonstrations in the U.S. as the campaign takes its message on tour this summer. Customers also will have the chance to fly the new H80-powered 510G during the tour. Stops are planned in multiple states, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas, with open houses to be put on at Thrush Dealers and Service Centers in each region. The ag aviation awareness tour will conclude at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Ga., on Oct. 18.

 

In addition to the summer tour, the campaign will be supported through a variety of channels—from social media, to the web, to advertising, as well informational talks at selected events. 

 

Hughes added, “We’re looking forward to not only helping everyone who’s already in [the industry], but also to expanding the number of folks who realize what a great future it represents—both in the fields and in the cockpit.”

 

Stay tuned to the AirVenture excitement on NAAA’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/NationalAgriculturalAviationAssociation for updates and to view photos while NAAA staff are at AirVenture.