The CRESCO 08-600 is an initial production version of the Cresco agricultural aircraft, a high-utility model developed by Pacific Aerospace. The aircraft is powered by a 447 kW (600 shp) Lycoming LTP 101-700A-1A engine. Designed with the pilot’s visibility in mind, the cockpit is forward of the low wing, placing the hopper to the rear, which minimizes wind gust issues typical of some taildragger designs. The Cresco can apply a wide range of products, with a disposable load of 5,400 lbs (2,449 kg) and a hopper capacity of 500 USG (1900 liters). Beyond its foundational agricultural role, the versatile CRESCO is also configured for applications like firebombing, capable of operating from unpaved strips, and transporting up to twelve skydivers.
The development of the “Cresco” (Latin for “I grow”) began in the early 1980s by Pacific Aerospace Limited, a company rooted in New Zealand aviation. The design was heavily influenced by the demands of operating from unimproved landing strips often found in the steep New Zealand hill country. The CRESCO 08-600 was the initial production model, leading to the later, more powerful Cresco 08-750 variant, which entered production in 1992. Pacific Aerospace continues to be a foundational manufacturer in the agricultural and utility aircraft sector.
A variety of platforms and access solutions are available for this aircraft. These include deck platforms, modular stepover platforms, scaffold, maintenance platforms, and specialized access equipment. These products address maintenance requirements across critical aircraft sections, including the nose, forward, middle, and aft fuselages, landing gear, wing and engine pylon, and the tail section (empennage). These maintenance solutions ensure thorough and efficient access to components such as avionics, bulkheads, wing box, fuel tanks, engines, and stabilizers.
