Snow S-2

In 1956 Snow Aeronautical introduced the S-2, a single engine agricultural aircraft intended for crop spraying, aerial seeding and other related tasks. Although Snow Aeronatical was a short lived company, the aircraft it designed has gone on to become one of the most successful of the type remaining in production for more than 6 decades. It was originally designed around a radial piston engine but in the 1980s turbo-prop conversions began to appear, new factory built turbo-prop powered aircraft were available by the 1990s.

Snow Aeronautical was acquired by the Aero Commander division of Rockwell International in 1965. The aircraft was renamed the S-2 Ag Commander, and later the S-2 Thrush Commander.

In 1975 The Ayres Corporation began to offer turbo-prop conversions using a Pratt & Whitney PT6A. Marsh Aviation offered turbo-prop conversions of the S-2 from 1976 until 1985. These conversions used a Garrett TPE331 turbine engine.

Ayres purchased the rights to the and production facilities for the S-2 from Rockwell in 1977. Ayres continued to offer conversions and in 1995 introduced the turbo prop powered S-2R-T in 1995. In 2001 Ayres Corporation went bankrupt and was disovled. Thrush Aircraft purchased the assets of the company and restarted production in 2003.

The S-2 series has been sold worldwide. In addition to agriculture operations it was been widely adopted as a light air tanker.

S-2C-600 / Thrush Commander 600 /  S-2R 1340 Thrush


 * Manufacturer: Snow Aeronautical / Rockwell International / Ayres Corporation
 * Crew: 1
 * Payload: 400 gallons (1514 liters) of water or fire retardant
 * Gross Weight: 6000 pounds (3130 kg)
 * Cruising Speed: 124 mph (200 kph)
 * Range: 403 miles (648 km)
 * Wing Span: 44 feet 4 inches (13.51 m)
 * Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1340, 600 horsepower (448 kW)

S-2R Turbo Thrush (conversion)


 * Manufacturer: Marsh Aviation
 * Crew: 1
 * Payload: 400 gallons (1514 liters) of water or fire retardant
 * Gross Weight: 6000 pounds (3130 kg)
 * Cruising Speed: 124 mph (200 kph)
 * Range: 403 miles (648 km)
 * Wing Span: 44 feet 4 inches (13.51 m)
 * Engine: Garrett AiResearch TPE331-1-101, 600 horsepower (448 kW)