Red and blue models dominate the pneumatic drill sector. Now Amazone is aiming to change all that by bringing a touch of green to the scene. The first few Amazone pneumatics were trialled last year, and we tested one of the prototypes

How can it be? Amazone, a firm that has advocated the benefits of mechanical seed delivery for so long, is now offering a pneumatic alternative. An Amazone with air is certainly an intriguing combination, and one that begs closer inspection.

So that’s exactly what we did last year when we put a prototype version of the AD-P pneumatic through its paces. For our test we hitched a 3m version, the AD-P 302, on to the back of a 92kW/125hp Deutz-Fahr Agrostar 6.38. Fitted with a double ring packer up front, the tractor coped comfortably with the combination, achieving an average forward speed in work of about 6km/hr. Looking at the drill’s design in detail, the unit is close coupled up to the rear of the tractor hence keeping weight as far forward as possible – where it should be.

We particularly liked the seed distribution head being attached outside the hopper; in effect, that means there are very few in-hopper corners, edges, and pipes to hinder seed flow and operator access. But beware! The head is a potential ‘rear window waster’, so take care when lifting the outfit for the first time if you’re one of those who insist on keeping the back window open.

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