Skip to content
#20 Ag Aviation vs Technology: Is Variable Rate Worth It? episode artwork

Mar 15, 2026 1 hr 32 min

#20 Ag Aviation vs Technology: Is Variable Rate Worth It?

from Pyjama Pilots Hosted by Jimbo Burgess

In this episode, Jimbo, Hoodie and Pedro dive into the debate around modern spreading tech — variable rate systems, cockpit mapping, and whether it’s actually improving outcomes or just adding cost and complexity for farmers. Is the technology genuinely helping pilots and cockies get better results, or is it a half-finished system that’s shifting risk and responsibility onto the people flying the job? The conversation drifts (as it always does) through real stories from the cockpit — dodgy fert density, spread tests, long days in Gizzy, and the reality of life as an ag pilot when the weather, the boss, and the cockies all have different expectations. Along the way the lads also get into: Why constant-rate spreading actually is an improvement When automation helps… and when it becomes a distraction The pressure pilots face when new systems don’t work as advertised Early mornings, endless seasons, and the micro-climates every ag pilot learns to read Electric aircraft experiments, drones, and where ag aviation might be heading next It’s part industry discussion, part hangar-talk, and part therapy session for anyone who’s ever worked in agricultural aviation. Expect strong opinions, plenty of laughs, and the usual sideways detours into aircraft, war stories, and the realities of flying for a living.

Episode details come from the podcast's RSS feed.

Embed this episode

Ready to play

#20 Ag Aviation vs Technology: Is Variable Rate Worth It?

0:00 1:32:19

No transcript yet.

Requests help us decide what to transcribe next.

Frequently asked questions

How long is this episode of Pyjama Pilots?

This episode is 1 hour and 32 minutes long.

When was this Pyjama Pilots episode published?

This episode was published on March 15, 2026.

Can I download this Pyjama Pilots episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.