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Story: Topdressing

The Fletcher topdressing aircraft

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The Fletcher topdressing aircraft

The 300-horsepower FU-24 PAC Fletcher aircraft was designed especially for spreading fertiliser. Since 1953 it has been the main workhorse in aerial topdressing in New Zealand.

Using this item

Private collection

by David Harding

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

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How to cite this page

John Maber, Topdressing – Commercial developments of aerial topdressing, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/16562/the-fletcher-topdressing-aircraft (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by John Maber, published 1 March 2009.