Rotor Flies World’s Largest Crop-Spraying Drone in Texas

Rotor Technologies’ R550 Sprayhawk flies a remotely piloted demonstration at the National Agricultural Aviation Association’s (NAAA) Ag Aviation Expo in Fort Worth, Texas. [Courtesy: Glenn Watson/FLYING]

Manufacturer Rotor Technologies this week flew its R550 Sprayhawk—which it calls the largest spray drone in the world—at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport (KAFW) during the National Agricultural Aviation Association’s (NAAA) Ag Aviation Expo in Fort Worth, Texas. FLYING was on the scene to capture the remotely piloted demonstration, part of the launch of the 2025 model Sprayhawk.

The demonstration flight included participation from the FAA, Helicopter Institute, and Hillwood, whose Alliance Air Services subsidiary manages Perot Field. Rob Lowe, regional administrator of the FAA’s Southwest Region, delivered a keynote speech at the event.

The Sprayhawk is an automated, gas-powered helicopter based on an overhauled Robinson R44 airframe, with 110 gallons of capacity. With a range of about 5 sm and flight endurance of 50 minutes, it can spray 240 acres of crops in an hour at a lower cost of operation than comparable aircraft, Rotor says. The drone has about double the R44’s usable capacity and cuts costs by more than $1.20 per acre sprayed.

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