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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Grumman S2F/S-2/C-121 Tracker / TF/C-1 Trader / WF/E-1 Tracer
    Latest Model:S-2F3AT Turbo Tracker
    Last Military Serial:149265 USN
    Construction Number:G-121-109C
    Last Civil Registration:N431DF {2}
    Latest Owner or Location:California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention, McClellan AFB (formerly), Sacramento, California

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a S2F-3S.

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 149265.

    Redesignated as S-2E.

    Assigned to Davis Monthan AFB, AZ for storage.

    From 22 August 1996 to By 1998

    To USDA/US Forest Service/CDF, Mather, CA with new c/r N504DF.

    11 July 2000

    To USDA Forest Service Fepp, McClellan, CA with new c/r N431DF {2}.

    Operated by California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention, McClellan AFB (formerly), Sacramento, CA.
    View the Location Dossier

    From By 2002 to By 2005

    Stored unconverted at Mesa, AZ.

    1 May 2002


    Photographer: Reinhard Jost
    Notes: N431DF at Marsh Aviation, Mesa Falcon Field,Tucson, AZ before starting a new life as firefighter

    Contracted to Marsh Aviation Company, Falcon Field, Phoenix, AZ for work on the airframe.
    View the Location Dossier

    Converted to a S-2F3AT by Marsh.
    New construction number, 787-38, assigned to the airframe.

    By 2005

    Operated as fire service #78 with markings: CDF

    10 June 2005

    Certificate of airworthiness for NR431DF {2} issued.

    20 February 2006


    Photographer: Nick Taylor
    Notes: Taken at Ramona Airport (RNM) on the Air Attack Base ramp.

    28 June 2007

    Certificate of airworthiness for NR431DF {2} (S-2F3AT, 149265) issued.

    4 September 2011


    Photographer: Mike Henniger
    Notes: Parked on the ramp at Fresno, CA.

    5 September 2011


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    30 September 2019


    Photographer: John Bennett
    Notes: Taken at McClellan, CA, U.S.A.

    18 August 2020


    Photographer: Jim Leslie
    Notes: This photo was taken on 18 Aug 2020 as the aircraft was departing Hollister Airport on fire fighting duties. Normal home base for this CalFire S-2 is Porterville.Note that the day this photo was taken there was a large fire in the nearby city of Salinas which accounts for the large amount of smoke in the air.
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Print Sources
     Warbirds Directory, 5th Edition by Geoff Goodall
    Internet Sources
     Aerial Visuals - The Locator by Mike Henniger, Senior Editor
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher
    Individual Contributors
     Mike Henniger
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    Direct Link: https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=12515
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