RALCO Inc.

  1957 to 2007*

  United States of America

TYPE: Aerial applicator

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Cheyenne, WY

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Nil

RALCO was a large agricultural flying outfit founded by Ralph S. Johnson and based in Wyoming. Johnson was a highly experienced airline captain who was flying Boeing 40 mail biplanes for United Air Lines by 1930 before going on to Boeing 247s, DC2s, DC3s and post-war Constellations. During the 1950s, he became a pioneer in heavy aircraft spraying, dusting and pest baiting. RALCO started operations using Fairchild C-82s and Chase C-122s, spraying in Wyoming with a US Dept of Agriculture Navion above directing the runs.

During 1957 RALCO Inc purchased 22 surplus US Navy PV-2 Harpoons and standardised on that type. RALCO specialized in wide acre pest control application with groups of tanker aircraft flying in low level formation, operating across the USA attacking grasshopper swarms, locusts, fire ant infestations, fruit fly in orchards and spruce budworm in forests. This work was severely curtailed in the late 1970s by strict US ecology protection laws. On 13 March 1974, RALCO was also sanctionned by the Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice for fixing prices with fellow aerial applicators Clark Aerial Services, Dothan Aviation Corporation and Aviation Specialties.

When the US Forest Service commenced offering annual contracts to commercial operators of heavier tanker aircraft for forest fire bombing, Ralph Johnson had at least four of his PV-2 tankers modified for fire attack, later adding a C-54 for firebombing contracts. He was also active in cropdusting, airliner sales and on the warbird scene.

1967 to October 1973

RALCO operated two ex-Zantop Commandos, presumably in sprayer or spreader configuration.

• Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando: N611Z
• Other Commando: N74173