Photograph:
Rockwell S-2R Thrush Commander VH-DQN (c/n 1811R) at Bourke, NSW in November 1987 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat agricultural monoplane
Power Plant:
One 448 kw (600 hp) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S3H1 nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 13.65 m (44 ft 7¼ in)
- Length: 8.64 m (28 ft 4 in)
- Height: 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 30.4 m² (327.4 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 225 km/h (140 mph)
- Max cruising speed: 200 km/h (124 mph)
- Economical cruising speed: 180 km/h (112 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 305 m/min (1,000 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 3,962 m (13,000 ft)
- Max range: 756 km (470 miles)
- Range with max payload: 354 km (220 miles)
- Empty weight: 1,542 kg (3,400 lb)
- Loaded weight: 2,722 kg (6,000 lb)
History:
The prototype of the S2 series was flown for the first time in 1956. Designed by Leland Snow, who founded the Snow Aeronautical Company (later Corporation), the type has proved to be very successful in its role as an agricultural aircraft over the years. The first production model, known as the S-2B, appeared in 1958 fitted with a 336 kw (450 hp) Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 nine-cylinder radial engine. This was followed in 1959 by the S-2A fitted with a 164 kw (220 hp) Continental W-670-6A or –6N radial engine. Further models were released in later years. These included the S-2C, which was introduced in 1961 as a successor to the earlier models, fitted with the Pratt & Whitney R-985 engine, or the R-1340 engine of 448 kw (600 hp). In 1964 a modified S-2C appeared with a longer wing and larger ailerons.
In 1965 the Snow Corporation was acquired by Aero Commander and a new model was evolved, the S-2D with the R-1340 engine. The prototype of this model was flown for the first time on 16 June 1965. Later again Aero Commander was taken over by Rockwell International and production continued at the old facility, with the name being changed from Aero Commander 600 Snow Commander to Rockwell Snow Commander. Subsequently the name was changed to Thrush Commander, and finally, in the late 1970s, the manufacturing rights were sold to Fred Ayres. A new model with a Pratt & Whitney PT-6 turbine was marketed, along with the piston-engine version, as the Ayres Turbo Thrush. A number of Thrush Commanders have been registered in both New Zealand and Australia over the years.