Ayres Thrush

, June 1997, in pseudo-USAAF markings The Thrush, designed by Leland Snow, first flew in 1956 and before long was being produced in series as the S-2 by the company he founded, Snow Aeronautical. featured an armored cockpit and engine to protect against hostile ground fire. Nine were sold to the Department of State between 1983 and 1985. Ayres also attempted to market a militarized version as the Ayres Vigilante, intended for the Close Air Support role, but this failed to attract customers. IOMAX USA of North Carolina, which had previously modified Air Tractor AT-802 agricultural aircraft as reconnaissance/attack aircraft, has developed the Archangel attack aircraft modeled on the S-2R-660. The United Arab Emirates has ordered 24 Archangels, with delivery from June 2015. Two Thrush 510Gs were modified to perform a counter-insurgency role by the Austrian company Airborne Technologies at the direction of Erik Prince, the former head of Blackwater, but in the absence of an export license the aircraft have not been used operationally. ==Variants==

turboprop Snow Aeronautical (per Simpson, 2005, p. 39) ;S-1: initial prototype with open cockpit. ;S-2: pre-production version of S-1 – 3 built. ;S-2A: initial production version, powered by Continental engine – 73 built. ;S-2B: S-2 powered by Pratt & Whitney R-985 – 19 built. ;S-2C: refined production version, wingspan increased – 214 built. ;S-2C-600: S-2C re-engined with Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN1. ;S-2D: take-off weight – 105 built. Aero Commander ;S-2D Ag Commander: Rockwell ;Thrush Commander 600: ;Thrush Commander 800: powered by Wright R-1300. Marsh ;S2R-T Turbo Thrush: Rockwell Thrush Commanders converted to turbine power by Marsh Aviation using Garrett AiResearch TPE331-1-101 engines. Ayres ;S-2R 1340: Equivalent to Thrush Commander 600. ;S-2R 1820: Powered by Wright R-1820 Cyclone. ;Bull Thrush: ;Pezetel Thrush: powered by PZL-3. ;: turboprop powered versions equipped with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A. V-1-A Vigilante Powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A it could mount FLIR cameras and could carry up to 1,200 lbs of NATO standard weapons as well as gunpods on six under-wing pylons. Thrush Aircraft ;Thrush Model 400: ;Thrush Model 510G:General Electric H80 powered ;Thrush Model 510GR:Honeywell TPE331 powered ;Thrush Model 510P:Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 powered ;Thrush Model 550:Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AG powered ;Thrush Model 710:Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AG powered ;Archangel: Thrush 550G modified as two-seat armed attack aircraft. PT6A-67F engine. Fitted with 6 hardpoints for of external stores. ==Specifications (Thrush Commander 600)==