Carrier-Based Historic Anti-Submarine Aircraft : Grumman S-2 Tracker

This video documents the full operation sequence of an ex-Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Grumman S-2G Tracker, N12-152333 or Tracker 844, from the ground perspective. It covers towing, engine start, control surface check, torpedo bay check, wing unfolding, engine run-up, takeoff, wing folding, engine shutdown, and post-flight inspection. This aircraft is well maintained by the engineers and volunteers at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) Aviation Museum, located in Shellharbour Airport, Albion Park, NSW, Australia, approximately 100 km south of Sydney.
The Grumman S-2 Tracker (S2F prior to 1962) was the first purpose-built, single airframe anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft to enter service with the United States Navy. The total production number stands as 1284.
Aircraft Brief HIstory - Tracker 844 was delivered to the RAN in April 1977 and was used onboard aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne. This submarine hunter served with the RAN until August 1984 when it was looked after, and flown by, the RAN Historic Flight. The aircraft was acquired by HARS in December 2018 and it is still airworthy.

[@tonymanero5544]

To me, the engineering of the folding wings is amazing. About 75 feet, 3/4 length of a basketball court. There are few carrier borne aircraft in the world and no other country besides the U.S. has planes with folding wings.

[@SaeedYussuf-ms1vl]

Su-33 flanker has folding wings bro

[@davidster1704]

In 1973 I was in the Navy. I got to take a hop from sacramento to Sandiego on a S2. They signed me on as a crew member. I sat in the sonarmans seat. It was a fun ride for a newby going to A school.

[@georgehandel5908]

As PIC, I made 8 touch and go landings, and 8 arrested landings, in the S2F Tracker, aboard the USS Lexington, ....in the Gulf of Mexico, on April 8th, 1964. Received my US Naval aviator "wings of gold", and commission as an Ensign, on April 9th.

[@georgebrady1060]

When I was in the U.S. Navy, (1958 -1963) we had these aircraft on board our carrier, the USS Lake Champlain CVS 39. I was and ADR3. As a reservist I was in VS 834 for about 18 months as Madman on the "Stoofs".. The squadron was deactivated and I qualified as a Plane captain/flight engineer on a P2V 5F. and I loved that job. Put in 2 1/2 years in VP 839. I mostly flew as plane captain with the skipper, who in civilian life, was a Captain for TWA airlines. Really to this day I miss the planes and crews I flew with, Thanks for the walk down memory lane.

[@astrokitegunner61]

Thanks for the reply. Great to hear these things...!!!!!!!

[@acpc8317]

🇧🇷 do Brazil meus 👏👏👏👏

[@NavyLeaguer]

On the CHAMP. you must have known one of the LSOs, Dwight Lubich. A great pilot who later flew for United. And. he's still with us at 88. I was ESSEX, across the pier at NAS QP.

[@davidmurphy8190]

@@NavyLeaguerWhen my family would fly to Martha’s Vineyard, we used to look at Charlestown ALF where we sometimes saw S-2 TRACKERs practicing approaches on the runways marked out with ESSEX-like landing areas. Every time the S2Fs, P2Vs, P3Vs and EC-121s would fly over our house, Dad and I would stop and watch them go out over the Atlantic. I loved watching the aircraft fly overhead. Have to rejoin NLUS.

[@황기현-c7b]

한때는 대한민국 해군에 해상 초계기로 (S-2E TYPE)도입 되어 운영되었던. 항공기 인데 지금 영상보니 감회가 새롭습니다 처음 도입되는 날(날자 미상) 양 날개를 접는 모습이 너무. 신기했어요 옛 추억을 상기시키는 영상이여서 너무 고맙습니다 감사합니다

[@BLACKMONGOOSE13]

As a professional ramper in Texas working with the Boing 767 it warms my heart to ya’ll wearing your PPE! Very professional ground crew. 🇺🇸👍🏻😁

[@Mariner311]

Beautiful old bird - I got just shy of 570 hours as Senso in the successor: S-3B Viking during my Naval Aircrewman career (I was primarily an SH-60B Seahawk Senso). Amusing - the California Department of Forestry (CALFIRE) flies about 2 dozen turboprop versions of the S-2T as fire-retardant tankers, and they are often in my area during the summer months.

[@brennenevans4349]

conair aerial firefighter based in bc opperated some at one point

[@johnleaman9899]

As U. S. coast Guard Aux in Key West, Florida, a number of times I flew on the Jay Hawk helicopter. Once was in the air for 6 hours. We flew within 3 miles of Cuba.

[@johnleaman9899]

Also flew on the Sea King, was shooting video from boat, and was hoisted up to shoot additional video in air.

[@lohikarhu734]

On of my uncles served on HMCS Bonaventure, when she had Trackers and Banshees aboard.

[@edcook9747]

I was an aircraft electrician in a US Navy reserve squadron operating out of Los Alamitos Naval Air Station in California. We had S2F aircraft. We referred to them as “Stoofs”. Was air crewman for a time as sonar operator. Never forget the look inside and out or the sound. Great, sturdy bird. Some of the retired birds became fire fighting aircraft in the civilian world carrying fire retardant.

[@davidgrandy4681]

I live in Halifax Nova Scotia and the Canadian Navy Trackers flew out of CFB Shearwater in the 60's and I think the 70's. They were always flying overhead and nothing made the same noise as a Tracker. You didn't even need to look up.

[@rongraves9534]

was in RCN and station in Shearwater from 1955 to 1958. Loved that time I was a supply man at the supply depot. Kept those birds in the air.

[@RamiroMARCICO]

Hola un saludo a toda esta gente que nos trae maravillas yo de grumman conoci unoen el aeropuerto Chacklng que lo vendieron a un estadounidense que actulmente se encuetra esa nave en miami y de aviones fumigadores el grumman es el mejor un saludo desde paysandu uruguay

[@leesherman100]

I found one of these in a badly crashed condition very near Lake #5 just outside the Desolation Wilderness boundary back in '73. This is in the Sierras in Northern Calif. A sad ending for this bird sorry to say.

[@DrMGomezJr]

Majestic...

[@tonymanero5544]

I expected the 2 props to be counterrotating. But they both look clockwise rotation.

[@AviationTrainTV]

Nice video wow

[@stuckinthe60s69]

In the early 70s I was a young Aviation Electronics Technician in the US Navy in a Helicopter Anti-Submarine (HS) Squadron based out of NAS Imperial Beach, CA. We had a two week deployment on USS Ticonderoga, CVS-14 with a couple squadrons of Stoofs from NAS North Island. I was flight deck troubleshooter at night. Those props are invisible in the dark. I always assumed that they were turning and gave them a wide berth. They scared me more that all of the jet engines I would experience in later years as flightdeck troubleshooter for another HS squadron on USS Enterprise CV(N)-65. Some Stoofs have been converted into "fire bombers" (drop water and fire retardant on brush and forest fires that we seem to have too often here in Southern CA), so some are still flying and still serving the people. Good old bird.

[@davidmurphy8190]

Taiwan and Turkey operated Stoofs for a long time.

[@robertweldon7909]

1/6/2024 Wow, it sure is nice to see an actual S2 in this kind of shape. This is the aircraft that I primarily worked on during my time in the US Navy. (VS-41 1967-1969) The "G" variation outwardly looks very similar to the S2D and S2E version I worked on (AO). Looking at the aircraft from the FRONT, the engine nacelle on your right has a small door (visible at 14:35) that dispensed a pyrotechnic we called "smoke lights". On the other side is a different mounting, which looks like it launches flares (?). Otherwise the S2 looks much the same as the ones I worked on. Thanks for a really nice video, it brings back some long forgotten memories. ;-)

[@davidmurphy8190]

The S-2G does not have the bulged weapons bay for the Mark 90 BETTY. The LULU was an easier fit.

[@astrokitegunner61]

I was on the U.S.S. Ticondergoa CVS-14 back in the early 1970s. I worked out of the ATO office, and got to ride on the COD version of this. Thanks for posting

[@johnleaman9899]

Carrier on board delivery. Now they want to replace with tilt rotator. No thank you

[@astrokitegunner61]

Agreed...!!!!@@johnleaman9899

[@harshadmehta9188]

अभिनंदन वैज्ञानिक को जय हिन्द

[@ianstewartaviation2634]

Brilliant video really enjoyed it thanks for sharing

[@DrBearAviation]

Thanks mate for your watching. I am very glad that you enjoyed it.

[@orgcoast5990]

I have watched many of these converted to fire fighting tankers do their very low level attacks.

[@luthiermatt]

Cal Fire maintains a squadron of a few dozen turbo prop conversions stationed all over the state. It's a really cool program

[@中村一夫-m9c]

私は、今から５５年前に初めて整備した、機体です。私はこの機体で飛行機を学びました、日本ではもう見る事が出来ませがまだ飛べる機体が有るなんて感激😂です。

[@DrBearAviation]

ご視聴、コメントいただきありがとうございます。このビデオを見て半世紀前の記憶が甦ってくれてとても嬉しいです。

[@malcolmbrady1958]

Stunning Camera work !!! Thanks for Sharing !!!

[@DrBearAviation]

Thanks mate for watching. I am glad that you enjoyed it.

[@kizzjd9578]

Is there a cowling missing from the rear of the engines?

[@พูพูดทีแก้วสีส์ม]

เยื้ยมสุดลุ้นทับปีกได้❤🎉🎉🎉❤❤

[@michaelogden5958]

Nice engine start. Obviously well maintained. Cheers!

[@edutaimentcartoys]

amazing aircraft 😍similar to an osprey

[@rafalemarine5063]

Magnifique avion 👍

[@davidmurphy8190]

I liked the ALIZE and wish the US Naval Air Museum had one at Pensacola.

[@davidwiley3440]

Yup, brought back a lotta memories of flight line as a Plane Capt..... remembered every hand signal... didn't see the ol git ur head outta ur butt signal so musta been pretty good pilot....

[@davidwiley3440]

Also very clean bird... hasn't been out in weather much or they have a lotta smoogie... and folks sittin around in shop to wipe down the plane....

[@lohikarhu734]

Looks like a Caribou in the background...now "THERE'S AN AIRPLANE!* any videos of your Caribou?

[@DrBearAviation]

Thanks mate for your watching. I shot a very short video of that parked Caribou on a different occasion, and the link is kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIPWe6Nsn5KBY5Ysi=nnFquCErykcO8YAF

[@luisnguyen5455]

Navy Australia S2 made in USA 🇺🇸 right.…? Thanks for posting buddy.(RCL Veterans)🇺🇸🇨🇦🇦🇺🇬🇧🇩🇪🇫🇷

[@DrBearAviation]

Thanks mate for watching. Yes, it was manufactured in USA.

[@1320fastback]

Is fuel stored in rhe wings? Are there supports for the wings when folded in storage?

[@owennicholls9046]

Fuel is stored in the wings inboard of the wing fold point, across the top of the fuselage to the opposite wing break. There is no fuel in the wings outboard of the wing break. "Jury struts" are installed to support the folded wings. If you look from 13mins 28 into the video you can see them being installed.

[@アルシオーネ-g3f]

トラッカーが動いているのを初めて見ました　かっこいい😊😊😊

[@DrBearAviation]

見てくれてありがとう。楽しんでいただけて嬉しいです。

[@TadeuszDobro]

No flight?

[@DrBearAviation]

It did fly. 10:05 is takeoff.

[@caposey]

7:44 all you hear on the Tupolev TU-95 be like:

[@SaktiSrg-ik6fy]

Sakti#pesawat terbang

[@aj-2savage896]

Yeah, that's what an airplane's supposed to sound like.

[@Дмитрий-д7е8ч]

😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@reskireskkii2303]

E😮àn

[@zovijoutehmar5536]

No flight

[@DrBearAviation]

It did fly. 10:05 is takeoff.

[@ВаесидинРахмонов]

Бапеш тачикистон

[@jorgeluizdasilvameloluiz2452]

Pata - chóca Santa Cruz basc rj

[@muhammaddahlan830]

Naa yang biasa di pakai frekuensi 12,14,11,10,16 khz, 📟📟📟📟📟🖥️🖥️💻💻⌨️⌨️⌨️⌨️⌨️🎤🎤🎤🎧🎧🎧🎚️🎚️🎚️🎚️🎚️🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️🔌🔌🔌🔌🔌🔌🔌🔌🔌🔌🎛️🎛️🎛️🎛️🎛️🥁🥁🥁🗼🗼🗼🗼🎢🎢🎢🎢🎢🏟️🕋🏟️🤱🤱🤰🤰🦸🧜🧜👩‍💻👩‍💻👩‍💻🏃🏃🏃🏃🚶🚶🚶🚶🚶🚶🚶🚶✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️🙏🙏🙏

[@ВаесидинРахмонов]

Око

[@KorsuAhmed-b9f]

খসরু

[@ThomasReginaThomaspresident]

Regina Thomas president Uganda ns one yellow ❤😂🎉😢😮😅😊

[@ВаесидинРахмонов]

Алвси

[@ВаесидинРахмонов]

Йцуенгваоол

[@AhsanulBadri]

Peshawar seeing kecelakaa pilotnya walnuts telanjang setengah jading luring Consent. melange take Di auntie Shani kaput kecantol lunatic awake Samantha Sam keceupaaan perjalanan Katie Kira Kira demolished 🎉

[@JoseFerreira-fu4di]

Parabéns ESSA AERONAVE É NOTA 10 TOP PELO BRASIL PARABÉNS

[@MountainGurkha14]

Wow So Nice good Video 💯❤👍🙏 New Subscribe

[@امسعود-ب1ذ]

❤ ‏‪0:26‬‏

[@امسعود-ب1ذ]

❤ ‏‪0:38‬‏

[@dickritchie2596]

No flight?

[@DrBearAviation]

It did one takeoff and one landing. Takeoff is at 10:02 in the video and, unfortunately, I missed the landing part.