AGRICULTURAL AIRCRAFT CONTROL SYSTEM USING THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM

An aircraft control system for applying chemicals to an agricultural field in one of a plurality of flight patterns is provided. A global positioning system receiver receives radio frequency signals from satellites and the position of the aircraft is determined from the information contained in the received signals. An aircraft computer stores the surface coordinates of the field to be sprayed. The aircraft pilot enters the desired orientation, swath width and track width of the flight pattern into the computer. Based on the aforementioned information, the computer produces a flight pattern having the desired orientation and generates, via a pilot headset, audible signals representative of amount and direction of deviation from the desired flight pattern. The computer means may also automatically activate and deactivate chemical spraying upon entering and exiting, respectfully, the airspace above the field.