Aerial spraying efficiency Bi-planes introduced reduces carbon footprint

The Blanchair company, which bases itself at the Ingham Aerodrome, imported three DW-1 Eagle bi-planes and an M74-L Wasp helicopter from the United States last year in an effort to become more efficient and reduce its carbon footprint. The chopper, which is kitted-out for aerial spraying, and the unique bi-winged planes, are the first of their kind in Australia. Mr Blanch said the bi-planes had a longer wingspan which made them more efficient for aerial spraying. “This aeroplane consumes 25 per cent less fuel than something similar with a single wing,” Mr Blanch said. “Cane was still very depressed, so we figured we couldn’t really up our prices all that much because the cane growers simply couldn’t afford it,” Mr Blanch said. “I don’t know that there is going to be a big market, but I think as fuel prices go up again it could be,” he said. “Even as we’ve had this global recession now, you can see that oil prices are starting to sneak back up and that’s part of the reason why there’s a global recession. He said he planned to purchase the manufacturing rights to the Eagle bi-planes and look at modifying them further to make them even more energy-efficient. (June 18, 2009)