In 1953, Leland Snow constructed his first crop-duster Model S-1 before graduation from Texas A&M
University. The Texas A&M College Aircraft Research Center is known from the AG-1 Agricultural
plane that was designed by Fred Weick in 1950. The AG-1 might be considered as the mother of all modern
crop-sprayers in the world. The prototype Model S-1 (N5385N c/n 1001) was extensively tested in South
America before the improved Model S-2 reached production. The
pre-production prototype Model S-2, was first flown in 1956. Production
of the S-2B by Snow Aeronautical Company started in 1958. North American
Rockwell acquired the design and production-rights of the S-2 series in
November 1965. The S-2R was marketed by the growing Aero Commander
Division of Rockwell. Ayres Corporation took over the rights in 1977.
The 1978-built Ayres S-2R-T331 Turbo Thrush N9486Q of Tom van der Meulen / Aero Service was
photographed at Lelystad airport in the Netherlands on 24 May 1991.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
