Grumman CP-121 Tracker
- Period: Postwar (1945-1959)
- Uses: Maritime Patrol
- First Flight: May 31, 1956 (CS2F-1)
- Display Status: In Storage Wing
The Tracker was the first Canadian-built aircraft ever ordered for the Royal Canadian Navy. It replaced the aging Grumman Avenger as the Navy’s anti-submarine patrol aircraft. With the retirement of the aircraft carrier HMCS Bonaventure, the Tracker reverted to land-based coastal surveillance. In 1960, 17 Canadian Trackers were given to the Netherlands. When the Trackers were retired from the Canadian Forces some were converted to water bombers and are still active in the 1990s. Canada built a total of 99.
The Tracker’s detection equipment was similar to what larger, land-based patrol aircraft like the Canadair Argus carried. The Tracker also flew equipped with sonobuoys, smoke markers, torpedoes, flares, and explosive charges, but in much smaller quantities than the Argus.
Museum Example
- Registration #: 12187 (CAF)
- Manufacturer: de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd., Canada
- Manufacture Date: 1960
- Construction #: Unknown
- Acquisition Date: 1990
- Provenance: Transfer from Canadian Forces
This aircraft was transferred to the Canada Aviation Museum in August 1990.
Specifications
- Wing Span:
- 21.2 m (69 ft 8 in)
- Length:
- 12.9 m (42 ft 3 in)
- Height:
- 5 m (16 ft 3 1/2 in)
- Weight, Empty:
- 7,935 kg (17,500 lb)
- Weight, Gross:
- 10,975 kg (24,195 lb)
- Cruising Speed:
- 241 km/h (150 mph)
- Max Speed:
- 438 km/h (272 mph)
- Rate of Climb:
- 710 m (2,330 ft) /min
- Service Ceiling:
- 6,949 m (22,800 ft)
- Range:
- 1,558 km (968 mi)
- Power Plant:
- two Wright R-1820-82-MR5 Cyclone 1,525 hp, radial engines
Additional Photographs
The Canada Aviation Museum’s Image Bank contains additional photographs of this aircraft. Images are provided for non-commercial study or research purposes only and may not be reproduced or published without the prior consent of the Canada Aviation Museum.
Find out more about our Image bank here.
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