Grumman S-2 Tracker

what is it?

The Grumman S-2 Tracker (S2F prior to 1962) is the first purpose-built, single airframe anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft to enter service with the United States Navy. Designed and initially built by Grumman, the Tracker was of conventional design — propeller-driven with twin radial engines, a high wing that could be folded for storage on aircraft carriers, and tricycle undercarriage. The type was exported to a number of navies around the world.

🔎How to recognise it: 2 piston engines with propellers · 22.1 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 450 km/htop speed
• range 2,172 kmwithout refuelling
• size 11.9 tmax take-off weight
• built 1,284made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 74 years ago, in 1952.
• 🏎️Top speed is 3.5× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
• 🚗Wingspan of 22.1 m: about 5 cars parked nose to tail.
• 🌍Range of 2,172 km: 12× Amsterdam to Brussels.

piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.

spec sheet

first flight

1952-12-04

introduced

1954

retired

1976

status

retired

number built

1,284

role

anti-submarine warfare aircraft

origin

🇺🇸 United States

makers

de Havilland Canada, Grumman

engines

2× Wright R-1820-82WA / R-1820-82WA

crew

4

length

13.3 m

wingspan

22.1 m

height

5.3 m

max take-off weight

11.9 t

top speed

450 km/h

cruise speed

241 km/h

range

2,172 km

ceiling

6,706 m

wings

monoplane

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.

family