Warbird Information Exchange

Interesting S2 Tracker project on ebay, at $15k seems reasonable value?

regards

Mark Pilkington


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Grumman-S-2-Vintage-Warbird_W0QQitemZ180129944879QQihZ008QQcategoryZ63678QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

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20th Century - The Age of Manned Flight
"from Wrights to Armstrong in 66 years -WOW!"

To me that seems VERY reasonably priced. I wish I had that kind of money. SIGH.

I did my commercial training in Abbotsford, BC where Conair has a TON of Trackers, and my favourite time of year was Spring time because they'd always be taxiing them around/flying them to get the bugs out for the fire season. They are like harleys on steroids. Lots and lots of steroids.

I want my own.

One day, right?

Cheers,

David

The cost of the engines is $$$$$$ for Trackers from what I understand.

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-Bill
B-17E 41-2595 "Desert Rat" Restoration Team

You can figure a good solid $50K to get it in ferry condition, assuming that no one has folded the wings since it was parked, and that the bladders are fuel tight. With it known that both engines need at least one cylinder each and with a claim of the engines being locked due to rainwater in one cylinder per side, I would plan on pulling all the cylinders and borescoping the rest of the engine before even thinking of doing any other pre-ferry work on it. If the engines need teardown, then you might as well pop the wings and tail off and truck it home.

And before anyone asks......Yeah, I'm thinkin' about it.

Gary

If, in the game of life, first prize is a Tracker project, then second prize must surely be 2 Tracker projects.

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Eric

"I spent most of my money on alcohol, women and skyraiders....and the rest of it I just wasted."

Hmmmm

A whole bunch of 1820's in California on the GSA Auction site

http://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/gsaauctions/

Click on "search by state" select California and there they are.

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Rob

I looked under misc and there are about 14 1820 engines bids are $500 to $800 each. Not too bad except they are in California (which is FAR away from where I live)

Mark H

They're ex-CDF Tracker engines, since the CDF have now replaced them with Turbo Trackers. There were also a number of partially-dismantled Tracker airframes parked outside the CDF Hangars at McClellan when I visited the museum there on the way home from the Sacramento airshow a couple of weeks ago.

I know that as of 4 years ago the cost to overhaul a Wright 1820-82B which is what the Tracker uses, was about $40,000 each. Even at that price and paying $15,000 for the plane, that is not a bad deal. There are still plenty of S-2 parts available on the market, which if the plane has sat that long plan on replacing a lot of actuators and valve seals. In my opinion though, I think it would look real nice sitting next to your PBY Gary.

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Col Craig Duck
Life Member CAF
Life Member YAF
Life Member EAA

Virtually all those engines are lunched- at least one was siezed and most of the others were making metal.

This Tracker is one of two that are sitting on the Ramp at Mather Field. I just saw both last week during the air show and have pics of them. There are two MI-14's also sitting next to the Trackers.
They were there last year when we worked the show. Hope they go to someone who can save them!
Blue skies,
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Here's another one for sale if you didn't like the first one.

http://www.aircraftdealer.com/aircraft_ ... /11454.htm

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Col Craig Duck
Life Member CAF
Life Member YAF
Life Member EAA

Does anyone know what happened to the Tracker based in Anderson, Indiana? My dad was their pilot, and he flew the crap out of that thing, but that was around a decade ago. I think it's in the Northwest, the nose-art on it was "Iron Lady".

Thanks,
Trey

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"There are two types of people here; airshow whores and airshow prostitutes. The whores, like you and I, do airshow stuff for free, whereas the prostitutes are paid" - Reg Urschler