Originally Posted by
urp99
You are correct that I had no ag experience, but this particular operator had already worked one low time pilot through a training program and had him flying, and had another in the pipe line. They were willing to check me out in the aircraft because I would have to do test flights after maintenance, so it wasn't a factor of them not trusting me to fly their aircraft, or wanting somebody experienced, it was the simple fact that it was easier to find pilots than mechanics, which gave them an incentive to keep me out of the cockpit and in the shop.
I've been doing aircraft maintenance since my early teens, and began flying ag right after high school, and stay current in turbine and radial piston ag aircraft.
Doing a maintenance hop around the pattern is not the same as working an ag airplane in the field, nor are the consequences the same.