fire bomber earning its keep

[n5151ts]

[astixjr]

That takes lots of talent. Cast Iron Balls probably have a bit to do with it as well. I'm not sure what these folks get paid to do this now days but it's not enough.

Incredible photo by the way, thanks for posting it.

[skybolt2003]

yeah, well that was the good old days. i'm sure my dad and sister in fallbrook would love to be seeing a lot more airtankers in action right about now . . .

[n5151ts]

I have always wanted to fly spotter planes for the forest service....not enough to actually do it but ...almost!

[skybolt2003]

I have always wanted to fly spotter planes for the forest service....not enough to actually do it but ...almost!

well. i still want to fly air attack, even knowing as much as i do . . .

[Mr Widgeon]

Taken during a fire a few years ago.
Here's the info courtesy of the Wildland Fire site.

http://www.wildlandfire.com/pics/air/air.htm

This photo, entitled "Retardant Drop", of T-16 was taken during the Curve Fire (on the Angeles National Forest, 9/1-10/7/02; 20,857 acres) by Leo Jarzomb, San Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group who undoubtedly holds the copyright. You must contact him before using this photo for training or otherwise. (leo.jarzomb@ sgvn.com, 800-788-7578 ext 2121 or SVG News Group, 1210 Azusa Canyon Rd, West Covina CA 91790). We are linked to the photo that is posted on the CDF website by one of the CDFers on the fire. Ab.

Mike Lynn, the AirTanker Lead Plane pilot for Tanker 16 had this to say: "It was a very safe drop and it was also an effective drop. The retardant you see coming out didn't hit the ground for another 200 feet past the hair pin curve that the fire fighters were on. You have to see the whole picture of the area to understand the true story. There was very steep terrain involved here. After the tanker passed this area, the terrain drops off very steep. The photo just doesn't give justice to the distance from the edge of the cliff and the terrain that we were working. I was the lead on the drop. It was safe and effective. Other wise it wouldn't have been done. Mike..." Contributed by NV Dispatcher.

It pops up occasionally and always creates a stir when it does.

[51fixer]

Gotta love the radial.
Look at the leading edge of the L/H horizontal.
Thats why they had more oil capacity than most small planes have for fuel.
Rich

[n5151ts]

Gotta love the radial.
Look at the leading edge of the L/H horizontal.
Thats why they had more oil capacity than most small planes have for fuel.
Rich

[Bluedharma]

n5151ts?
Is that your shot? Where was it at? Nice picture.
Best Regards,

[EXPAT0149]

That is some picture !!!!!!!!!

[Django]

Taken during a fire a few years ago.
Here's the info courtesy of the Wildland Fire site.

http://www.wildlandfire.com/pics/air/air.htm

That site is very cool! Here are some of my favs...

[Joe Scheil]

None of these airplanes are earning their keep due to restrictions and changing focus of the Forest Service. All these are history shots of days long gone by...

ALL of those tankers are scrapped or parked, except for the Mars.

P2V N716AU in a "Museum" compound in Chico CA

All the PB4Y's were worked hard by H&P, 123 I think in the picture? is going to Yanks.

All the B-25's were outlawed by the USFS in the 60's. They migrated to Canada and a few were used as tankers, the one in the shot being restored at Aerocrafters I think.

All the wonderful DC-4 Tankers were removed from service without replacements.

The CL-415T is a 1000 to 1200 gallon scooper for the LA county. A fleet of 10 would have been hard pressed to control the thing.

C-130A's were found to be structurally flawed by original design, since grounded and banned.

There are only 6 P-3/L-188 types in the US. A handful of P2V's as well.

The DC-7 is a state of Oregon aircraft only, The Feds wanted her gone but the state stepped in and refused to continue into the future unprotected.

Its sad to me to know that the reason the socal fires went "wild" was two fold. One, a lack of interest in maintaining, developing and implementing large fixed wing airtankers on the part of the USFS and Cal Fire. Two, failure to admit that ground walking assets, while important to the union bottom line, can do little in rough terrain against high winds, and yet denying airtankers access to the fire based on preceived "cost control"

[n5151ts]

That takes lots of talent. Cast Iron Balls probably have a bit to do with it as well. I'm not sure what these folks get paid to do this now days but it's not enough.

Incredible photo by the way, thanks for posting it.

[bdk]

Its sad to me to know that the reason the socal fires went "wild" was two fold.

Four fold. You forgot that 50 years of putting out every fire allows the underbrush to grow out of control and create a fire so large and hot that the canopy burns. Also, homeowners don't clear brush from around their property or add sprinklers to protect their homes. People that don't evacuate and stay behind to protect their own homes are usually successful. Unfortunately that is more dangerous than leaving. It is far easier to let the insurance company pay and then complain about the rates later.

Just my opinion that forests in the US have been mismanaged for years by the tree huggers and do-goodniks. Commercial entities could clear and cull the forests, make a profit, and maintain habitat.

Another example of mismanagement is that California has banned hunting of many types of animal pests, only to hire professional hunters later when the pests roam out of control in ever increasing numbers (or their habitat gets replaced by houses which provide a tax base). Not only don't they collect the fees from hunting licenses, then they have to pay the professional hunters.

I'm sure this is an unpopular (and not politically correct) view, so feel free to flame away!

Misguided or not, the result is a lot of cool aircraft remain as a result.

[n5151ts]

n5151ts?
Is that your shot? Where was it at? Nice picture.
Best Regards,