Specifications:
| Crew: | Pilot, Observer / TACCO* in the cockpit, two electronic operators in the rear cabin. |
| Length: | 42 ft 3 in (12.9 m) |
| Wingspan: | 69 ft 8 in (21.2M) |
| Engine: | 2 x Wright R-1820-82-MR5 Cyclone radial engines |
| Power: | 1,525 hp each |
| Maximum Speed: | 272 mph (438 Km/h) |
| Cruise Speed: | 150 mph (241km/h) |
| Range: | 968 mi (1,558 km) |
| Service Ceiling: | 22,800 ft (6,949 M) |
Aircraft Information
This aircraft was in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and held in storage at Canadian Forces Base Saskatoon, SK in 1976 still with its RCN serial no. 1598. It was then renumbered CAF 12198. Struck off from service in May 2, 1975 as surplus and sold. The aircraft was purchased by the Province of Saskatchewan on June 25, 1975 and repurposed as a water bomber operating as fire service #1 based at LaRonge, Sk until.
In December 2007 it was assigned civil registration C-GEHP (CS2F-2-97). Grounded on September 2013 and retired from service.
On October 30, 2013 this aircraft was donated to the Saskatchewan Aviation Historical Society.
The Tracker was of conventional design with propeller-driven with twin radial engines and the wings could be folded for storage on aircraft carriers.
The Tracker carried an internal torpedo bay capable of carrying two lightweight torpedoes or one nuclear depth charge. There are six under-wing hard points for rocket pods and conventional depth charges or four additional torpedoes.
Sonobuoys in the rear (16 in early marks, 32 in the S-2E/G).
A total of 99 Trackers were built by de Havilland Canada, with the first aircraft flying on 31 May 1956. From 1957 onwards, these aircraft operated from Canadian aircraft carrier HMCS Bonaventure.
After Bonaventure was decommissioned in 1970, all remaining Canadian Trackers were transferred to shore bases. This limited their usefulness for ASW patrols, and between 1974 and 1981 gradually all but 20 were placed in storage.
The remaining were stripped of their Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) gear. The remaining active-duty Trackers served until 1990 on fisheries protection and maritime patrol duties. A handful of Trackers were kept in flying condition until the late 1990s but were no longer used for active service.
