Tanker 70, still somewhat stained from a recent firefighting job, is the third Tracker to be allocated the registration N427DF. The first one was c/n 256 (1974-1985), although it was never operated as such and probably never had the reg actually applied to the aircraft. The second one was c/n 550 (since 1985), which unfortunatly crashed in June 1992. The Tracker in this photo was registered as N427DF on 30 Aug 2000.

This Tracker never served as an airtanker, and was never officially registered. It is an S2F-1, ex BuA136745, which was delivered to the Japanese Navy on 12 Mar 1959 as 4146. In Oct 1983 it was acquired by Hemet Valley Flying Service as a spares aircraft and stored at at the Hemet-Ryan airtanker base. In 2001 it was restored and placed on display as a memorial. The text on the memorial plaque reads: "Dedicated in memory of Lloyd M. Venable - A pioneer in the aviation industry - Founder of Hemet Valley Flying Service - 1946. Born Oct 3, 1906 - Died Feb 1, 1991."

Aircraft is ex JMSDF 4146

Later became Tanker 92 and crashed near Hopland, CA on 27 Aug 2001.