PlaneFox tracks 2 Air Tractor AT-301 / AT-401 aircraft for sale and re-reads every one of them from the broker and dealer sites it watches, so the figures below move when the market moves. Every number on this page is measured from those live listings, not taken from a published price guide.
A Air Tractor AT-301 / AT-401 flies about 470 nm, roughly 870 km, which is about 3 h 53 min in still air at typical cruise.
A Air Tractor AT-301 / AT-401 costs about EUR 4,870 a month to run, or about EUR 537 for every flight hour when it is flown 150 hours a year.
The Air Tractor AT-301 / AT-401 are single-seat agricultural aircraft built by Air Tractor of Olney, Texas. The AT-301 entered production in the late 1970s as one of the company’s early purpose-built crop-dusting and aerial application designs. The AT-401 followed as a larger piston-powered model with greater hopper capacity. Both aircraft sit in the classic radial-engine Air Tractor line, preceding the widespread move to turbine-powered AT-400 and AT-500 series aircraft. Their importance is practical: they offer rugged steel-tube and aluminum construction, straightforward systems, and strong short-field utility for operators that do not require turbine economics or capacity.
The AT-301 is commonly associated with a 320 US gallon chemical hopper, while the AT-401 increased capacity to about 400 US gallons. Both are typically powered by the Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine, generally rated at 600 hp in agricultural installations. Typical operating cruise speeds are in the region of 110 to 120 knots, depending on load, spray equipment and propeller configuration. Published ferry range is generally around 400 to 500 nautical miles with appropriate fuel planning. Service ceiling is commonly listed near 12,000 feet, though these aircraft are normally evaluated by low-level working performance rather than high-altitude capability. Useful load varies by empty weight, equipment and certification basis, but the AT-401 offers a meaningful payload advantage over the AT-301.
The cockpit is a single-seat agricultural work environment, not a passenger cabin. Visibility, ventilation, protective structure and access to spray controls matter more than interior finish. Instrument panels are usually simple analog VFR layouts with engine instruments, basic flight instruments, radio, transponder where required, and application-specific equipment. Modernized examples may have GPS guidance, lightbar systems, electronic flow control, mapping displays and newer comm radios. Integrated suites such as Garmin G1000 or Garmin Perspective are not typical for these models.
For used buyers, condition and maintenance history are more important than calendar age. Key review areas include airframe corrosion, wing and spar inspections, tailwheel and landing gear condition, hopper integrity, spray system plumbing, control cables, fabric or panel repairs where applicable, propeller history and radial-engine time since overhaul. Logbooks should document agricultural use, damage repairs and compliance with Air Tractor service information. The AT-301 is generally positioned as a lower-capacity, lower-entry-cost piston ag aircraft. The AT-401 commands more interest where 400 gallon capacity is needed but turbine purchase cost is not justified. Common upgrades include GPS guidance, improved spray pumps, stainless booms, modern radios and engine or propeller overhauls.