English: Ayres 600-S2D Thrust VH-FCN c/n 600-1363D. Originally developed by Leland Snow as the Thrush in 1956, this agricultural machine was initially produced by Fred Ayres, an American agricultural operator. Snow later went into production and built them himself as the Snow S-2. In 1965 Snow sold out to the Aero Commander division of Rockwell which continued production of the Thrush in Afton, Wyoming, alongside the Callair A-9, a very similar, though unrelated machine. By 1968 Rockwell began marketing both types as "Ag Commanders", although I have also seen the S-2 described as the "Thrush Commander". Geoff Goodall found the one above at Glenn Innes, NSW in July of 1967 when it was working for Dutton's Aerial Sowing. Most Snow Commanders, including this one, were painted yellow overall with black trim, although by the time Ian McDonell took the shot below in the 1970s it had been repainted with a white canopy and rear fuselage, along with a somewhat different livery. VH-FCN is still laboring away as an ag machine, being currently registered to Agav Pty Ltd of Dalby, Qld.
Year of manufacture: 1966. Aircraft first registered in Australia: 14 March 1967. Registration holder and operator as of 27 July 2005 is AGAV Pty Ltd - Dalby Wings And Wheels 2010. Location: Dalby Airport. File: VH-FCN_YDAY_20100821_1738
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