Snow S-1 agricultural aircraft

[walter]

Can anyone please identy this aircraft. I think it is a US ag-plane (prototype) of the early 1950s. I do have have a hunch, but will not risk my reputation at this stage
I m also interested in the engine type.
Thank you in advance
Best regards, Walter

 

[LowObservable]

Hmm - definitely US from that EXPERIMENTAL tag. Pre-1970, probably pre-1960 because hats. Terrain could be Oshkosh (but could be a lot of other places).

 

[Machdiamond]

From the pilots flapping pants and helmet, I believe this photo dates from no later than the 50's.
With the wingtip plates and low wing strut configuration, I thought of the CallAir A-5T but it is not quite the correct answer as the tail and cockpit is a bit different. Maybe an earlier model from CallAir?
-Luc

 

[walter]

Hi Luc
Can understand why you mentioned the Callair A-5T. Quite some similarities.
Anyone willing to back my hunch that this may be the Snow S-1 prototype of 1953? (with the original opposed cilinders engine). That could explain the pilot`s clothing and cap.

 

[Arjen]

I think we have a winner.
Image source
http://www.eaa.ca/news/2011/2011-02-24_snow.asp

February 24, 2011 — Leland Snow, designer of the Air Tractor line of agricultural spraying planes, passed away

February 20 at the age of 80 while jogging near his home in Wichita Falls, Texas. Snow began designing his first ag airplane, the S-1, in 1951. By 1953, 23-year-old Snow had a working prototype and eventually the S-1 was flying dusting and spraying jobs in the Texas Rio Grande Valley and in Nicaragua until 1957. He followed-up the S-1 with the models S-2A and S-2B, which were built when Snow moved to production facilities in Olney, Texas, in 1958.

In 1965, Leland Snow sold his company to Rockwell-Standard and was appointed a Vice President of the Aero Commander division. During this time, the Model S-2R was developed and named the Thrush. More than 500 aircraft were produced under Snow Aeronautical Corporation and Rockwell-Standard in Olney.

Snow resigned from Rockwell and devoted the next two years designing the Air Tractor. Construction began in 1972 on the AT-300, which later became the AT-301. Air Tractor’s first turbine model, the AT-302, was introduced in 1977. By 1997, 2,000 aircraft had been built in Olney.

Today, Air Tractor produces a line of aircraft that includes 400-, 500-, 600-, and 800-gallon capacity planes powered by Pratt & Whitney piston or turbine engines. You can find Air Tractor aircraft working not only across the United States, but around the globe, in Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Croatia, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev0JPb4rWUI

 

[LowObservable]

And here...


http://www.airtractor.com/about-us/history-innovation


Interesting image here:


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/Snow_S-2A_N4983C_Santa_Fe_NM_19.06.97R.jpg


Shows the evolution from single forward cockpit via two seats to the aft-set cockpit that is found on most agplanes today.

 

[walter]

Gentlemen !
Thank you very much for your reactions and the links. Very good stuff.

 

[Arjen]

I've made some screen grabs.
The radial engined S-1 lost its wing struts.