Weatherly Aviation Company was an American agricultural aircraft manufacturer formed on 28 March 1961 in California. The company was formed by John C. Weatherley to modify surplus Fairchild M-62 Cornell military training aircraft for agricultural tasks. [1]
An agricultural aircraft is an aircraft that has been built or converted for agricultural use - usually aerial application of pesticides or fertilizer ; in these roles they are referred to as "crop dusters" or "top dressers". Agricultural aircraft are also used for hydroseeding.
The Fairchild PT-19 is an American Fairchild Aircraft monoplane primary trainer aircraft that served with the United States Army Air Forces, RAF and RCAF during World War II. It was a contemporary of the Kaydet biplane trainer and was used by the USAAF during Primary Flying Training. As with other USAAF trainers of the period, the PT-19 had multiple designation(s) based on the powerplant installed.
The prototype conversion was designated the WM-62C and over the next five years the company converted 19 aircraft. [1] When it became impossible to find any more Cornells to convert, Weatherley designed his own aircraft, the Weatherley 201. [1] Two prototypes were built and the type entered production in 1968. [1] An improved version, the Weatherly 620, was built from 1979; it had a higher gross weight that allowed it carry a larger chemical hopper for spraying. [1]
The Weatherly 620 is a 1970s American agricultural monoplane designed and built as an improved variant of the Weatherly 201 by the Weatherly Aircraft Company of McClellan, California.
