Dropping retardant on the Union Fire was this hard working S-2 with Cal Fire

Tanker 72 just finishing it's run on the Union fire in the Santa Ana River Bottom

Ex US Navy Grumman S2F-1 Tracker (Bu.No.136658). WFU in 1981 and stored. Acquired by Conair in 1987 and converted to a Conair Firecat. Delivered to the Sécurité Civile as F-ZBDA in June 1987 (using ferry marks F-WEOK). Returned to Conair Sept.1991 for conversion to Turbo Firecat and redelivered as F-ZBDA in Sept.1992 (again using ferry marks F-WEOK for both ferry flights). Subsequently reregistered F-ZBAP.

Ex US Navy 133202.

While most Firecats were former Royal Canadian Navy trackers licensed built by De Havilland Canada, there were also a half dozen ex-US Navy S2Fs converted. This Firecat was originally 136600 with the US Navy retired to MASDC in 1980. Acquired by Conair in 1984, the firebomber conversion was completed by 1986. The aircraft was retired in 2012, but remained stored at Abbotsford. The last Conair operated Firecats were scrapped in the summer of 2020.

It wouldn't fly again. Previous identity 136582.

Canada's first Tracker, with MAD boom extended and radome lowered. Delivered to DHC as a pattern and test aircraft in May 1954, serialled X-500. Transferred to the RCN 13 Dec 1954 as 1500 (carried below the tailfin in this photo) and loaned back to DHC. Returned to the RCN 18 Dec 1955 as 1501. Converted to CS2F-1 standard, f/f as such 8 Jan 1957. Eventually to the Shearwater Aviation Museum for display. Often incorrectly quoted as ex BuNo 136519, but its identity is in fact unknown. Sources say that this aircraft was assembled by DHC from sections supplied by Grumman, in which case it may never have received a Grumman c/n. Tracker production numbers support this claim. Photo from: Department of National Defence (Canada)

This unit was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Sicily.

One of a fleet that Conair bought from the military. Many were seen at CYWG while on ferry from Mountainview/ON. Still airworthy here but destined to be used as a parts source then scrapped. This is how it looked in 2006.

This Tracker was transferred to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center in April 1981. Later registered as N8114Z, it was displayed in the American Wings Museum at Anoka, MN.