Flight Expo Move the Stoof!

The S2F-1 was made during the cold war. Early 1950’s, America was in the thick of the [Cold War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War). The primary threat to the U.S. Navy was the numerous Soviet submarines lurking under the cover of the ocean. These submarines became armed with strategic missiles that became a threat to the U.S Navy. 

Thankfully Grumman designed the S2F-1 Tracker. It was the first purpose-built, single airframe anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft to enter service with the United States Navy. It was outfitted with latest submarine detection equipment and revolutionized the ASW. 

 

Today, one of these aircraft resides at the American Wings Air Museum. Unfortunately, the museum has fallen on hard times and can no longer house the aircraft. The aircraft has been donated to Flight Expo, Inc. in the Spring of 2022.  If we do not move the aircraft by this fall, it will be taken apart and scrapped. It will be erased from this earth along with the history memories that were made in it. 

Since we started this campaign with $0 on August 1, 2023; with your support Flight Expo, Inc. has raised $7400. We thought this was the halfway point, until the end of September we received a firm quote to move the aircraft for $25,000. We have asked for them to re-visit this and hopefully, this will shrink slightly.

(All of you are amazing at what we accomplished in such a short time! As you can see our work is still not done. So, if you have already donated - can you please add a little more this giving season? Or if you know someone who would like to help - please share our e-mail. Every dollar will count toward moving this aircraft.  AS of November 1, 2023)

**We need your help!** The move of the plane will cost approximately $25,000. Only with the help of sponsors will we be able to move and start a preservation for this piece of American history for generations to come.

Flight Expo, Inc. focuses on promoting aviation through education and preservation. We endeavor to inspire and encourage the next generation of airplane technicians, pilots, and aviation engineers. We rely on donations for aircrafts for our students to work on and this would be an excellent historical hands-on project for youth of all ages. We would engage interested and eager youths and adults anywhere in our, and neighboring communities to observe and learn from this aircraft. With help from donors we would be able to move this plane for our students, veterans, and adult mechanics to restore it to flyable conditions. 

**You would be saving an amazing plane with tons of history, as well as providing a great learning opportunity for our next generation.**

This aircraft is important to a lot of people and as 

US Representative Henry Waxman said, “The sanctity of our battlefields, monuments, and veterans’ institutions is of upmost importance to preserve military history and pay respect to those who fought.” 

So, please help preserve our history, every little bit helps.