From The Archives: 70 Years Ago In Aviation Week

The cover of Aviation Week’s March 21, 1955, issue features an illustration of a Grumman S2F-1 Tracker—the first purpose-built, single airframe anti-submarine warfare aircraft to enter U.S. Navy service—with its electronic gear in operational positions. 

A Magnetic Airborne Detection (MAD) boom extends from the tail cone, and a Goodyear spun-glass radome can be seen under the fuselage. 

The MAD boom detected and homed in on submarines, while the radar spotted and tracked surfaced vessels. Sonobuoys were ejected from the engine nacelles. This equipment previously required a two-aircraft hunter-killer team, until Grumman packaged it into a single aircraft.  

The Tracker served in the U.S. Navy until the mid-1970s, but some foreign air arms still operated the aircraft into the 21^st century.

March 21 1955 | Aviation Week

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