Warbird Information Exchange

With all the fires in SoCal, the old D-7 are flying again along with the DC-10. Impressive to watch her at tree top level.

Yeah, DC-10 is reportedly making drops in the Lake Arrowhead area. I've seen photos of CL-215s and P2Vs as well.

It is very sad to see the events going on out there.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Two Neptunes were orbiting over my house today preparing to drop on the Stevensons Ranch fire. They were being led by a California Dept of Forestry Bronco. These were the first warbird tankers that I saw this fall. Up until now it was all Skycranes, Sikorskys, Bell 412's and of course the Dehavilland "Super Scoopers". No pics because the camera was already packed in case we had to bug out! The fire has passed by us about a mile away and no more danger.....for now. More 60 kt winds forecasted for in the morning.

Since the gutting of the large tanker fleet the air assets are simply too few to make a difference. Oh well, they are saving money!

Bush has now committed the MAFFS tankers. Hopefully it won't be too-little too-late for them though.

Stay safe, Southern California WIXers..............

Lets pray there aren't any horror scenes like this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vuVe5VcgEQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGSwWVh5TAI

I used to work on C-130's & they're one tough aircraft.
Any word on what caused this?? Digger

I worry about those firefighters. In the early 90s at Glenwood Springs north of Aspen, 13 firefighters were lost. It wasn't even a big fire, but a cold front came through and the wind shifted and picked up. They tried to run up a steep hill through underbrush. A few made it to the top, and once over the ridge the fire sort of passed over them, but most were lost. I have hiked up the trail that is there now and seen the crosses about 50 yards from the top. I was at my son's baseball game there about 5 miles away at that time and I can remember the sky filling with smoke. It was such a shame. The front was predicted, even a student pilot learns that frontal passage means a wind shift, but the bosses did not take enough care to get the people out. The few houses in the area were of no historic or even much monetary value, no house is worth some young person's life. So. Cal. is much bigger and more dangerous. I used to live in San Diego just south of La Jolla.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Here's a few cool film clips from Steven Speilberg's Film "ALWAYS":

Opening PBY Scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKgYdP4mQjQ

"ALWAYS" Movie Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yACuYaIeEQU

A great movie based on the 1944 P-38 Classic "A Guy Named Joe".
"ALWAYS" is available on DVD at Amazon for just $7. A must-see for any Warbird fan ... Digger

Word this morning is that the Martin Mars are being put into the water and will be down to San Diego perhaps by tomorrow.

Help is on the way!

I heard a rumor that WIXer Larry Kraus was heading down from Oregon with -7

If the DC-7 is headed south fly safe!

As for the scrapped tankers this year, I guess its too late.

The Martin Mars (both of them) are the only aircraft to have never lost a fire. Too bad they do not have the lobby support of Candidair!

Obvious: too much Stress on the wings with all those G's and Loads.

Sad ,those people gave their life to save others. Bless them and all those who fight fires and save lives.

in the last few days on the news all i've seen are skycranes & sikorskys. a tragic disaster. 1 home worth 17 million was burned to the ground!!

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!