Originally acquired by the US Navy as S2F-1 136746, this aircraft was transferred to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and operated as 4147 before being withdrawn from service.*
Returned to the US, 136746 was acquired by Marsh Aviation and registered as N746MA. It became the first production "Turbo Tracker," and was evaluated as tanker number 155.
As of March 216, US FAA records still indicate that N746MA is registered to Marsh Aviation Company.*
Photographed at Marsh Aviation, Falcon Field
Mesa, Arizona
July 2000
(Scanned 35mm color negative)
*References:
www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries16.html
registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbe...
Tags: Grumman S2F Tracker Grumman S-2 Tracker Grumman S2F Grumman S-2 S2F Tracker S-2 Tracker Grumman S2F S-2 Tracker Marsh Aviation Falcon Field air tanker fire fighting aircraft water bombers Tanker 155 N746MA fire bombers
CDF (now CAL FIRE) Grumman S-2 Tracker
Photographed at Marsh Aviation, Falcon Field
Mesa, Arizona
July 2000.
(Scanned 35mm color negative)
This aircraft appears to carry the markings of CDF (now CAL FIRE) tanker 180, and it has engine mounts for the original R-1820 radial engines.
Marsh Aviation converted an S-2A to its "Turbo Tracker" prototype in 1989. That aircraft, which carried tanker number 180, was demonstrated widely and was very successful in CDF operations.
Most production "Turbo Trackers" were produced from S-2E airframes by Marsh Aviation.
I cannot explain why this un-converted Tracker (S-2A?) would have been marked as CDF Tanker 180 when I photographed it in July 2000.
Any additional information would be welcome! Please feel free to comment or contact me using flickr mail!
Tags: Grumman S2F Tracker Grumman S-2 Tracker Grumman S2F Grumman S-2 S2F Tracker S-2 Tracker Grumman S2F S-2 Tracker Marsh Aviation Falcon Field air tanker fire fighting aircraft water bombers Tanker 180 fire bombers
Douglas DC-3 N57123 (c/n 33170) may have originally been procured as TC-47B 44-76837, before being transferred to the US Navy as R4D-7 99831.*
As of March 2016, the US registration N57123 was still assigned to this aircraft, but its status was "Expired" as of 12/31/2012.*
Photographed at Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona (KMSC)
July 2000
(Scanned 35mm color negative)
*References:
www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries10.html
registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbe...
Tags: Douglas C-47B Skytrain Douglas C-47 Skytrain Douglas R4D-7 Skytrain Douglas R4D Skytrain Douglas C-47B Douglas C-47 Douglas R4D-7 Douglas R4D C-47B Skytrain C-47 Skytrain R4D-7 Skytrain R4D Skytrain Douglas Aircraft Douglas C-47B C-47 R4D-7 R4D 33170 44-76837 99831 N57123 Douglas DC-3 DC-3 Falcon Field KMSC MSC prop liners
Douglas C-118A Liftmaster, 53-3262 (c/n 44633). Re-designated VC-118A, withdrawn to storage at MASDC in March 1975.*
Photographed at Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona (KMSC)
July 2000
(Scanned 35mm color negative)
*Reference:
www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1953.html
Tags: Douglas C-118A Liftmaster Douglas VC-118A Liftmaster Douglas C-118A Douglas VC-118A C-118A Liftmaster VC-118A Liftmaster Douglas Aircraft Douglas C-118A VC-118A 44633 53-3262 Liftmaster XA-TDR Falcon Field KMSC MSC prop liners DC-6 DC-6A Douglas DC-6
Former Royal Australian Air Force C-130A A97-212 with US registration N130PS.
Originally procured under USAF s/n 57-0505 (c/n 182-3212) and transferred to Australia.*
As of March 2016, this aircraft appears to be registered in the United States as N131EC.*
Photographed at Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona (KMSC)
July 2000
(Scanned 35mm color negative)
*References:
www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1957.html
registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbe...
Tags: Lockheed C-130A Hercules Lockheed C-130 Hercules Lockheed C-130A Lockheed C-130 C-130A Hercules C-130 Hercules Lockheed C-130A C-130 Hercules 57-505 182-3212 3212 Royal Australian Air Force RAAF A97-212 N130PS N131EC Herk Falcon Field KMSC