Agricultural production presents various challenges ranging from productivity, occupational health and safety, environmental protection, climate change and, last but not least, sustainability. New technologies that help face these challenges are considered to be of priority implementation.  There are two basic elements to take into account: aircraft must be performing and efficient but, above all, their environmental impact must be kept under control.

It is precisely to meet all these needs that gyroplane comes into play.

It is no coincidence that one of the mottos that best represents MagniGyro, a leading manufacturer of gyroplanes, is “innovate to be innovative“. Constant research and development and an important collaboration with AG-NAV have led to the development of the M16 Agri. This new model, developed based on the well-known Magni M16 Tandem Trainer, puts a new perspective on aerial work, particularly in the agricultural field.

Thanks to its extreme operational simplicity and great manoeuvrability, the M16 Agri is also an ideal partner for small and medium-sized agricultural producers, who find the gyrocopter a valuable ally, not least because of its extremely low operating and maintenance costs. These favourable characteristics led, on 9 December 2017, to the official delivery of two Magni M16 Agri to the Ministry of Agriculture in Ecuador. The two aircraft are still employed in the fumigation of banana plantations owned by the Banavid Association.

“We are very enthusiastic about the performance of the M16 Agri” explains Captain Daniel Texeira, “The characteristics of this aircraft fit perfectly with the needs of our plantations across the country, responding to their need for constant control.”

Unlike other aircraft, the gyrocopter has no stall and can therefore fly at very low speeds and heights. The aerodynamic configuration of the rotor generates minimal turbulence during flight, allowing fumigation to be carried out without unnecessary dispersion of product.

“This high performance, which leads to significant product savings, also means less environmental impact in the treated area, reducing soil and groundwater contamination!” – comments Marcos Chulia, Spanish sales agent.

The high manoeuvrability of the gyroplane also allows it to return to the plantation in a minimum of time once it has completed its pass. These characteristics, combined with reduced take-off and landing distances, which are possible even from semi-prepared surfaces, allow the aircraft to operate close to the field to be treated, making reloading trips much easier and shorter. All this reduces time and fuel consumption, and represents a huge cost saving.

The M16 Agri is equipped with an irrigation system, with a 120 or 150lt tank positioned in the passenger seat and MICRONAIR or NOZZLE type sprayers operated by an electric pump in the case of low spraying volumes or by a wind pump in the case of higher volumes. The width of the pass is approximately 10/15 m depending on the working height and the type of crop to be treated.

The available spraying systems are therefore customisable according to operational needs, guaranteeing a wide delivery range between 15 and 60 l/min suitable for most of the crops to be treated.

The integrated spraying management systems facilitate the work of the pilot who, regardless of the speed or direction of flight over the field, will obtain a constant and uniform spread of product. This is achieved with the aid of sophisticated GPS systems, which, once the type of field to be treated has been set, manage the flow of product in relation to flight speed by partialising the flow rate to the spray booms. Spraying also starts and stops automatically when entering and leaving the field, and in the event of overlapping passages.

A large LED bar provides the necessary information for correct alignment.

The M16 Agri is available with two different engines: Rotax 914 Turbo with 115HP and Rotax’s latest engine, the 915iS with 141HP. Thanks to its performance and operating versatility, the M16 Agri proves to be a sustainable, fast and effective solution, thanks to its very low consumption per hectare compared to a “land-based” treatment.

Is the M16 Agri therefore up to this technological and environmental challenge? We think so!
For further information www.magnigyro.com