Protecting Hawke’s Bay Apples from Heat with XAG P150 Max Spray Drones

Overview

Airborne Solutions used the XAG P150 Max spray drone to apply Surround kaolin clay across a Hawke’s Bay apple orchard, supporting summer heat protection for Granny Smith apples through precise aerial application and an efficient multi-drone workflow.

In Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, summer heat puts real pressure on apple orchards. During peak growing conditions, Granny Smith apples are particularly vulnerable to sunburn and heat stress, directly impacting fruit quality and marketable yield.

To protect the crop, the Airborne Solutions team carried out a morning spray operation using Surround, a natural protectant containing super-fine kaolin clay. When applied over the canopy, it creates a white, reflective film that reduces heat absorption and shields the fruit during the hottest part of the season.

Timing and coverage are everything. The job needs to be finished before the heat of the day sets in, getting the product exactly where it is needed.

That is where heavy-duty agricultural spray drones are proving their value.

The Operation: Spraying Surround Across a Granny Smith Block

The Airborne Solutions team deployed the XAG P150 Max spray drone for a morning Surround application across a Hawke’s Bay orchard.

Using the P150 Max, the team applied 400 litres of the kaolin clay mix across 2.6 hectares. The focus was precise, even aerial coverage throughout the block.

As part of the wider operation, two additional drone operators worked across the remaining blocks. Together, the three-drone swarm completed the entire 7-hectare orchard operation in just a couple of hours.

This is a practical example of how drone spraying tackles tight orchard windows: skilled operators, fast field setup, multiple drones covering assigned zones, and crop protection locked in before the mercury rises.

Why This Orchard Spraying Operation Stands Out

1. No-Clog Application for Heavy Protectants

‍Surround is a notoriously thick, abrasive clay suspension that easily clogs standard pressure nozzles. The XAG P150 Max handles this effortlessly. Its centrifugal nozzles and strong rotor downdraft drive the heavy droplets deep into the canopy without blocking, ensuring an even protective film exactly where it is needed most.

2. Efficient Workflow for Tight Spray Windows

‍Kaolin clay is best applied early in the day. For contractors, success isn't just about tank size; it is about the whole workflow. Fast setup, autonomous flight planning, and rapid refilling keep downtime to a minimum. Applying 400L across 2.6ha in a single morning window highlights how a well-organized drone setup keeps time-sensitive jobs moving.

3. Swarm Workflow for Larger Jobs

‍The wider 7-hectare job was completed with three drones working in parallel. This coordinated approach shows how ag drones easily scale beyond small blocks. The P150 Max also supports dual-drone swarm operation, allowing one operator to control two aircraft simultaneously, creating a strong pathway for commercial contractors to increase daily output and take on larger properties.

4. A Practical Alternative to Ground Machinery

‍Orchard spraying is tough on ground-based machinery when dealing with narrow rows, soft ground, or uneven terrain. Drones provide a flexible, low-impact alternative. They deploy quickly, operate above the canopy, eliminate soil compaction, and keep heavy tractors out of the rows.

The Result

• 2.6 hectares sprayed with 400L of Surround kaolin clay using the XAG P150 Max.
• 7-hectare wider operation completed in just a couple of hours using a three-drone setup.
• Zero clogs handling heavy clay suspensions, with deep canopy penetration.
• Zero soil compaction compared to traditional ground-based tractor spraying.

Watch the video below for a behind-the-scenes look at the operation, shared by the team behind the job.

What This Means for Growers and Contractors

For growers, drone spraying offers a flexible way to hit important seasonal windows without relying solely on ground machinery, whether it is for heat protection, pest control, or disease management.

For contractors, it proves that a well-organized drone setup can scale. With multiple aircraft working together, larger orchard blocks are finished in a fraction of the time while maintaining premium application quality.

Ready to Explore Drone Spraying for Your Orchard?

Built for high-volume aerial spraying, precise canopy penetration, and coordinated multi-drone workflows, the XAG P150 Max is perfectly suited for commercial orchard work across Australia and New Zealand.

👉 Learn more about the XAG P150 Max