Aviation-Guide - Flipbook - Page 14
Grumman S‑2T
PHOTO © JEREMY ULLOA
I
S P E C I F I C AT
ONS:
Original Owner
United States Navy, 1958-1975; The S-2E/G carrierbased anti-submarine warfare airplane.
Acquired by CAL FIRE
Cruise Speed:
270 mph
Type III Airtanker
Gallon Capacity:
1,200 gallons long-term fire
retardant
Manufacturer
Grumman Aerospace,
Bethpage, New York
Crew
One pilot
In 1996, CAL FIRE acquired 26 S-2E/G planes
from the Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP)
program. Marsh Aviation converted the planes to
a firefighting configuration and were retrofitted
with modern, powerful turboprop engines. The
completely reconditioned S-2Ts are faster, safer, more
maneuverable, and carry a larger retardant payload
than the original S-2A airtankers CAL FIRE had used
since the 1970s. The final three S-2Ts were completed
and delivered in 2005. CAL FIRE has 23 S-2T one
of which is in Sacramento at CAL FIRE’s Aviation
Management Unit (AMU) as maintenance relief.
Mission
The S-2T airtankers are used for rapid initial attack
delivery of fire retardant on wildand fires. These
airtankers are strategically located throughout
California responding to the most remote State
Responsibility Areas (SRA) within approximately 20
minutes.
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