Marsh Aviation S-2t Turbo Tracker

Twin Turboprop

The S-2T Turbo Tracker is a turboprop conversion of the Cold War-era Grumman S-2 Tracker anti-submarine aircraft, transformed into one of the most capable single-engine-out airtankers in the aerial firefighting fleet. Marsh Aviation of Mesa, Arizona developed the conversion in the 1980s, replacing the original piston radials with twin Garrett TPE331-14GR turboprops and adding a 1,200-gallon retardant tank system. The result is an aircraft that combines the rugged carrier-capable airframe of a 1950s naval design with modern turbine reliability and the ability to operate from short, high-altitude airstrips near active wildfires. The S-2T's low-and-slow delivery profile (it can drop retardant at speeds around 130 knots just above treetop level) makes it particularly effective for initial attack on fast-moving fires in mountainous terrain. Its twin-engine configuration provides crucial safety margins when operating in the hot, high, and heavy conditions typical of Western U.S. fire seasons, and the type's excellent single-engine performance has made it a mainstay of state and federal firefighting agencies. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection operates the largest fleet, with aircraft often seen working the steep canyons of the Sierra Nevada and coastal ranges. SkyMeter has tracked 100 flights across 22 airframes and 6 operators, with USDA FOREST SERVICE FEPP, CALIFORNIA DEPT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE P the largest observed operator.