Marsh Aviation - Completed Programs

Completed Programs

Marsh Aviation has completed ten of its own aircraft engineering modification programs: -

• North American Rockwell OV-10A/D/G Bronco airplane
• Grumman S-2F3AT Turbo Tracker, a re-engined Grumman S-2 Tracker, with Garrett TPE331 engines. Six converted for Argentine Navy.
• Grumman S-2F1AT Turbo Tracker airplane
• Rockwell/Ayres S2R-T Turbo Thrush airplane, a turboprop conversion of the Rockwell Thrush Commander, using a 600 hp (450 kW) Garrett TPE331-1-101 engine. Deliveries started in 1976. 75 conversions were completed by 1985.
• Grumman G164C Turbo Cat airplane, a turboprop conversion of the Grumman Super Ag Cat C/600. Six converted.
• Grumman G164B Turbo Cat airplane
• Grumman G164A Turbo Cat airplane
• Windecker Eagle II airplane
• Beechcraft T-34T airplane
• Sikorsky S-55T helicopter

Marsh's most recent S-2 modification sales were six S-2F3 Turbo Tracker conversion kits to the Armada Argentina, and twenty-three S-2F3AT Turbo Tracker initial attack air tankers for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF), now called CAL FIRE.

The CAL FIRE program was the largest contract in Marsh's history. The modifications resulted in a new FAA Type Certificate and included the following improvements : -

• Honeywell TPE331-14GR turboprop engines
• 1,200 US gallon (4,542 litre) retardant tank
• variable quantity/constant flow automated retardant delivery system
• new avionics and cockpit instruments
• new aircraft electrical system
• overhauled hydraulic and fuel systems

Deliveries to CAL FIRE began in December 1998 and were completed in June 2005. Overlapping with the CAL FIRE S-2F3AT Turbo Tracker air tanker program, Marsh subsequently completed a United States Air Force contract to modify and improve seven Colombian Air Force (CAF) OV-10A Bronco aircraft.

The CAF Bronco modification program included the following improvements: -

• Honeywell T-76 engines
• new Hartzell 4-blade propellers
• new propeller management systems
• service life extension program for the airframe and undercarriage
• upgraded avionics

Deliveries of the OV-10 to the CAF began in 2004, and the seventh and last aircraft was delivered in 2006. Total value of the contract was US$13.5M. Marsh is also upgrading T-76 engines and propeller systems for other OV-10 operators.

Marsh Aviation was selected by DynCorp International as the general contractor to modify the US State Department fleet of North American Rockwell OV-10D Bronco aircraft.

Among the modifications engineered and designed by Marsh for this DynCorp OV-10 program on behalf of the US State Department were: -

• modifications to incorporate the Hartzell 4-blade propeller
• new electrical system
• new avionics
• new aerial spray system used to eradicate drug crops

Marsh had completed and delivered two prototype aircraft to DynCorp and had four additional aircraft in process, when DynCorp decided to resume the program themselves for financial reasons in April 2007.

But without Marsh Aviation's engineering and manufacturing capability, the program has proven very difficult to progress, and it is believed that DynCorp will yet return the OV-10 Bronco modification program to Marsh for completion.