Snow S-2

In 1956 Snow Aeronautical introduced the S-2, a single engine agricultural aircraft intended for crop spraying, aerial seeding and other related tasks. 
Although Snow Aeronatical was a short lived company, the aircraft it designed has gone on to become one of the most successful of the type remaining in production for more than 6 decades. It was originally designed with an open cockpit and a radial piston engine. An enclosed cockpit was introduced in the 1960s and turbo-prop conversions began to appear by the mid 1970s.        
Snow Aeronautical was acquired by the Aero Commander division of Rockwell International in 1965. The aircraft was renamed the S-2 Ag Commander, and later the Thrush Commander.
In 1975 The Ayres Corporation began to offer turbo-prop conversions using a Pratt & Whitney PT6A. Marsh Aviation also offered turbo-prop conversions of the S-2 from 1976 until 1985. The Marsh conversions used a Garrett TPE331 turbine engine. 
Ayres purchased the rights and production facilities for the S-2 from Rockwell in 1977. Ayres continued to offer turbo prop conversions and in 1995 introduced a factory built turbo prop version as the S-2R-T.  
In 2001 the Ayres Corporation went bankrupt and was dissolved. Thrush Aircraft purchased the assets of the company and restarted production in 2003.  
The S-2 series has been sold worldwide. In addition to agriculture operations it has been widely adopted as a light air tanker. 
S-2C-600 / Thrush Commander 600 / 
S-2R 1340 Thrush
* Manufacturer: Snow Aeronautical / Rockwell International / Ayres Corporation 
* Crew: 1  
* Payload: 400 gallons (1514 liters) of water or fire retardant  
* Gross Weight: 6000 pounds (3130 kg)  
* Cruising Speed: 124 mph (200 kph) 
* Range: 403 miles (648 km) 
* Wing Span: 44 feet 4 inches (13.51 m) 
* Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1340, 600 horsepower (448 kW)
S-2R Turbo Thrush (conversion)
* Manufacturer: Marsh Aviation 
* Crew: 1  
* Payload: 400 gallons (1514 liters) of water or fire retardant  
* Gross Weight: 6000 pounds (3130 kg)  
* Cruising Speed: 124 mph (200 kph) 
* Range: 403 miles (648 km) 
* Wing Span: 44 feet 4 inches (13.51 m) 
* Engine: Garrett AiResearch TPE331-1-101, 600 horsepower (448 kW)
Category:Aircraft