Grumman S-2 Tracker Test Flight (3 Takeoffs)

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Жыл бұрын

Historical Aircraft 007
This former Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Grumman S-2 Tracker 844 Anti-Submarine Aircraft is preserved at HARS museum within Shellharbour Airport in Wollongong NSW Australia.
This video was taken on 10th September 2022 at Shellharbour Airport.
"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. " --- From Wikepedia.
格鲁曼S-2探索者/追踪者反潜机

Пікірлер: 33

@jimdavison4077 Жыл бұрын

Two things before I comment on the Tracker in general. First what great footage, super quality and nice and smooth transitions in focus and zoom. Second the aircraft itself looks in new condition, whomever looks after it or rebuilt it did an amazing job. The Tracker was never a liked aircraft here in Summerside PEI despite being stationed here on antisub patrols. It was brought in to replace the Canadian designed and built Argus derived from the Bristol Britannia air liner. This aircraft was roughly the size of a C130 with four large Radial engines so we became use to hearing it fly low on it's way home at it's Summerside and Greenwood bases. The aircraft aged prematurely and a quick replacement was needed. Several used Trackers were bought from US Naval surplus and quickly put to work hunting subs for the Canadian Armed Forces the new unified branches of our military. They did the job they were bought for and gave good service, they were not as sexy as the Argus's they replaced nor did they have the room for the amount of equipment of weapons the Argus had but they did the job. Having had the chance to be inside one I often wondered if any were used civilly after their military careers were up, I know many aircraft about the same side were used to support small isolated communities all around the world and with the landing gear made to take carrier service it would have been good for rough landing strips like those in small settlements in the north and such. It had about the same interior room as the twin engine Beaver and similar aircraft that were successful in this role so it just make me wonder. I know now with aviation gasoline becoming harder to find these aircraft have shorter life spans than ever now which is sad to see but we are always moving ahead with electric powered aircraft becoming a real thing.

@DWBurns 11 ай бұрын

State of California uses them for CalFire. They hung turboprops from the wings and still today they drop mud on fires.

@jimdavison4077 11 ай бұрын

@@DWBurns thanks for that information, always good to hear of old military aircraft finding new homes that keep them actively flying. Here in Canada they passed a law back in the 60s or 70s that banned military aircraft from being used commercially after the military is done with them. Only aircraft converted to civilian registration prior to then are grandfathered in.

@dondahlstrom4976 Жыл бұрын

I was airframes mechanic naval rework facility Quonset Point,R.I. Worked there for 7 yrs.1966-1973, Base closed but worked on these birds, enjoyed my job working for the Navy as a civil service employee.When I saw the video was the best memories from when they came into barn and out the hanger.Very proud to have worked there,hated to see the facility to close,was about to go to school for S3a replacement for S2’s .

@mortjoer 11 ай бұрын

I've always wondered and of course it works, as one can see, but my brain can't quite understand how those foldable wing hinges are sturdy enough just by looking at them. Same thoughts I have with the E-2 and C-2 To a carpenter it all looks like magic and you Northrop Grumman engineers and designers out there never ceased to amaze me ^^ Big fan of these planes, especially the C-2 Groundhog ❤

@cwdiacetis4423 6 ай бұрын

I was at Quonset 70 to 73 . Ax 3 vs 30 and a year on Uss Intrepid ops/ ax- ascac .small world.

@keithdevine8281 23 күн бұрын

What a great versatile aircraft.

@craigpennington1251 9 ай бұрын

S-2s are coll twins. Had them on both carriers I was on. Thanks for posting without music.

@IslandaviationTerceiraAzores Жыл бұрын

Spectacular upload!

@DrBearAviation Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching mate. Piston engines do sound very special.

@railroad9000 Жыл бұрын

When I was a Boy Scout in, we had a jamboree at the Quanset Pt Naval Air Station, Rhode Island. S-2 were doing touch and go's all night long. This was early 1950's. They sounded good then and this one still does and looks great!

@tractorsmachinesro1405 Жыл бұрын

Great great work my friend 💪💪🔝🔝

@pilotmiami1 Жыл бұрын

Bravo.Thenks

@DrBearAviation Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching my friend.

@roberttalarsky4238 Жыл бұрын

I remember that Air Craft,. Way cool when flight ops. We're going on to see Carrier launches👍

@DrBearAviation Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching. That piston engine really sounds sweet.

@gmarshall1026 Жыл бұрын

Very nice

@DrBearAviation Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching my friend.

@jackbach8968 Жыл бұрын

Bel appareil 👍👍

@pilotmiami1 11 ай бұрын

Bravo.I like it

@DrBearAviation 11 ай бұрын

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

@williamlowers1964 9 ай бұрын

At 2:00 to 2:05, the observer under the left wing (right wing observer too) is watching for about 8 to 10 hydraulic pins to drop, which indicates the wingtips are locked in place, and they won't start coming up on the takeoff roll. At 2:04 the observer holds both thumbs up, which indicates to the plane director that the plane is ready for flight. I worked at a base that flew S-2 aircraft and I worked on the flight line for close to a year, and was the pin drop observer many times. One of those things you don't think about very often, but critical to C-1, S-2, EA-1 airframe aircraft. Gotta do it.

@DrBearAviation 9 ай бұрын

Thanks a lot for sharing your professional experience in aviation and give us the professional explanation of what's going on.

@williamlowers1964 9 ай бұрын

Here is a video in German about the S2 Tracker and there is an excellent view of a folded wing showing 8 tabs that engage into slots on the bottom of the wing, and you can see the holes on the bottom of the wing. Once the tabs fully engage in the slots, the hydraulically actuated pins drop and you can see each of them through the holes. Look at the video here at the 2:39 time stamp. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3bagHuVZZpqsNU@@DrBearAviation