Case Study: A Day at the Airfield with the Ariens SUMMIT PRO 572
The morning begins quietly at the airfield. The sun rises over the hangars, the smell of coffee lingers, and the day stretches wide open. Before the first aircraft leaves the ground, another machine must get to work. Grass here isn’t decoration. It frames the runways, defines the taxiways, and creates the first impression of order and safety for anyone arriving.
A groundskeeper finishes his mug, pulls on a jacket, and walks across the tarmac. Waiting in the hangar, between wings and propellers, is the machine that will carry him through the day: the Ariens SUMMIT PRO 572.
He checks the blades, fastens his ear protection, and settles into the air-ride seat. With a twist of the key, the Kawasaki® FX engine growls to life. The mower rolls out of the hangar past parked aircraft, its orange frame a sharp contrast against the polished fuselages. The day’s first mission has begun.
Taking the SUMMIT PRO 572 to the Field
The opening stretch is always delicate. Aircraft wings, hangar doors, and tools leave little margin for error. This is where zero-turn steering shows its value. With fingertip control, the mower glides between obstacles, turning cleanly and moving with precision. No wasted manoeuvres, no uncut patches, no risk of scraping against aluminium.
Once it clears the hangars, the landscape opens. Vast fields stretch to the horizon, edged by runways and dotted with windsocks. Here the SUMMIT PRO 572 reveals its strength. The 72-inch cutting deck devours grass in wide swaths, leaving a flawless finish in its wake. The operator moves steadily across the field, watching long green strips transform into uniform, trimmed turf. The numbers tell the story: up to 29,500 square metres an hour cut cleanly, which translates to real savings in labour and fuel. For a property that never stops growing, the difference is dramatic.
Operator Experience: Comfort for Long Shifts
Hours on a mower can take their toll, but the SUMMIT PRO 572 was built for endurance. The pneumatic suspension seat softens every bump, adjustable armrests find the right fit for different body types, and controls are intuitive enough to become second nature. Wide 26-inch rear wheels and professional hydrostatic drives add stability even when the ground isn’t perfect.
As one operator put it: “We used to spend two full days mowing the airfield. With the 572, we finish in one – and the crew actually argues over who gets to drive it. Comfort, speed, consistency: it ticks every box.”
When mowing sessions run into the afternoon, that comfort isn’t a luxury—it’s the difference between finishing strong or wearing out.
Why the Airfield Chose the SUMMIT PRO 572
For the flying club, the decision to invest wasn’t about chasing speed alone. Airfield safety leaves no room for compromise. Grass too long can attract birds or hide debris. Machines that break down create delays and force rescheduling of work crews. The mower had to be reliable above all.
The SUMMIT PRO’s build quality became the deciding factor. A fully welded tubular frame, a reinforced ENVY-PRO deck made of thick steel, and cold-forged blade spindles are engineered for thousands of hours of operation. Maintenance intervals are long, downtime is rare, and when the engine starts, the crew knows it will keep running.
On property where reliability is tied directly to safety, that confidence is priceless.
| Criterion | Ariens SUMMIT PRO 572 |
|---|---|
| Engine Displacement | 852 cm³ |
| Maximum Engine Power | 19.6 kW / 26.3 hp @ 3,600 rpm |
| Max. Speed (Forward / Backward) | 21.3 km/h forward 8.4 km/h reverse |
| Cutting Width | 183 cm (72″) |
| Cutting Heights | 2.5 – 14 cm (1.0″ – 5.5″) |
| Weight | 792 kg |
| Warranty | 5 years / 1,500 hours (no hour limit first 2 years) |
Spotlight: The Ariens SUMMIT PRO Series
The 572 is the flagship, but it isn’t alone. The SUMMIT PRO Series was designed to give professionals a choice of scale without sacrificing professional-grade DNA. The series begins with the SUMMIT PRO 452, compact and agile with a 52-inch deck. The 552 expands cutting width to 61 inches, striking a balance between productivity and manoeuvrability. And at the top stands the 572, with its massive 72-inch deck built for uninterrupted stretches of turf.
What connects them all is a commitment to professional reliability. Each model carries a Kawasaki FX engine, matched to heavy-duty hydrostatic drives for smooth, consistent control. Every cutting deck is forged from reinforced steel for durability, and every seat is engineered for operator comfort during long sessions. For buyers, the warranty seals the promise: five years commercial or 1,500 hours, with no hour limit in the first two years.
Results at the Airfield
By the end of the day, the difference is plain to see. The runways are lined with clean, even turf. Taxiways are free of overgrowth and debris. The hangar surroundings are sharp and tidy. And the work that once stretched across multiple days has been completed in a single shift.
The impact is measurable. Mowing time has been cut by roughly 40 percent compared to older tractors. Productivity that once required two machines is now matched by one. Operators report less fatigue and more focus, even on long mowing days.
For the flying club, that translates to more than just neat grass. It means schedules run smoother, time is freed for other critical tasks, and visitors arrive to a property that feels safe and cared for.
Beyond the Airfield
The case study proves the mower’s worth in a specialised setting, but the same strengths apply elsewhere. Municipalities can rely on the SUMMIT PRO to maintain expansive parks and green belts without overextending their crews. Sports groundkeepers value the consistent, professional finish it delivers across wide playing fields, where every cut must be uniform. Contractors managing large estates or multiple sites appreciate how fewer passes mean less time on the job, lowering both labour and fuel costs while still leaving a professional finish.
In every scenario, the SUMMIT PRO Series transforms grounds maintenance from a slow, demanding task into a fast, efficient, and enjoyable process. It isn’t just the best mower for airfields – it’s equally at home on sports grounds, municipal parks, and large estates.
Closing Thoughts and Next Steps
As the sun sets and the last strips are mown, the SUMMIT PRO 572 returns to its place in the hangar, parked once again between aircraft. The turf is flawless, the runways are ready, and tomorrow’s flying will begin against a backdrop of clean, safe grass.
The Ariens SUMMIT PRO 572 has proven itself not in theory but in practice. It delivered speed, comfort, and reliability in one of the most demanding environments for groundcare. For professionals tasked with maintaining large-scale properties, the message is simple: the SUMMIT PRO doesn’t just cut grass. It sets a new standard for professional mowing.
