Grumman Trackers Liquidators Auction in Australia

[Ewan]

Heres a liquidators auction for a job lot of 11 (yep, 11) Grumman Trackers, stored at Sale in Eastern Victoria, Australia. Have been there a while and all sorts of prices thrown about for years but the business finally went belly up so the liquidators were called in.

Personally thought it would have been easier and more likely to get a sale by splitting all 11 up into single lots, but as I understand it not all are complete anyway (could be wrong on this, just what I have been told)

http://www.graysonline.com/sale/3003984/boats-marine-aircraft/11-x-ex-military-grumman-trackers?spr=true

[Chappie]

Oh please, someone save them! We need modern day Dave Tallichet's and Bob Beans!!

Chappie

[JohnB]

Many people predicted a long life for S-2s as fire-fighting aircraft with a couple of turbine conversions offered (one in US, one in Canada). I guess that's no longer the case.
Are they still allowed as fire fighters in the US?
Are any on the show circuit? IIRC, here was a Trader, but I don't know if it gets out much.

[ErrolC]

...
Are any on the show circuit? IIRC, here was a Trader, but I don't know if it gets out much.

A RAN/HARS one nearly made it to the Avalon Airshow in Melbourne (Australia), I don't know the current status.

http://www.warbirdz.net/forum/showpost. ... stcount=34

[Brenden S]

The ones in the states are called Firecats. They are employed very well with the CDF in fire fighting operations. I am pretty sure they are fitted with PT6's

[Rajay]

The ones in the states are called Firecats. They are employed very well with the CDF in fire fighting operations. I am pretty sure they are fitted with PT6's

There are actually two different turbine conversions of the Grumman S2F Tracker used for fighting forest fires.

The Conair Turbo Firecats built and operated in Canada seem to have 1,220 shp PWC PT6A-67AF turbine engines (per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conair_Firecat) but the Turbo Trackers built by Marsh Aviation in Mesa, AZ in the US and operated by the California Dept. of Forestry (CDF) apparently, according to TCDS no. A51NM*, have two 1,645 shp AlliedSignal/Garrett TPE331-15AW turbine engines.

*http://rgl.faa.gov/regulatory_and_guidance_Library%5CrgMakeModel.nsf/0/9BE12A55DCC29FEA86256B7B0059297F/$FILE/A51NM.pdf

[Brenden S]

The 331's are a better engine by far. However a pain in the rear end to work on!

[mrhenniger]

Does anyone know exactly where the Trackers are and IDs?

Could this be the place?
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - West Sale Airport, Fulham, Victoria - S-2

Mike

[Ewan]

Yes, click on the link that I put in the first post and it will give you the list. They are stored at Sale, Eastern Victoria, Australia. One set of working engines for the whole lot - story goes that when they were brought from Sydney they flew the first one down, took the engines off, trucked back to Sydney and put on the next one for flight. Sounds like a very expensive operation ....

And yes the map you put up looks right, close to the highway.

[mrhenniger]

Confirmed! The on BuNo I had match with one on the list.

Mike

[Brenden S]

This site here has some great info

http://www.adf-serials.com/

[FireAviation]

Looks like Australia could use these as Fire Fighters. Wonder if United Aeronautical (www.unitedaero.com) will be the buyer? They are the S2 gurus, and seem to be on buying spree for Fire Fighting assets?

http://fireaviation.com/2013/10/15/unit ... r-tankers/