What airplane did you see flying today?(airplane spotting)

[CAPFlyer]

Saw the DC-10 Tanker today coming in and going back out from Austin Bergstrom. About a 35 min turn around for refilling. not bad. also an Erickson Skycrane that just got into state today, third one in state so far. Was headed to smithville near Bastrop. 2nd one in that area.

Saw another rare one in a clip yesterday, civvy Chinook slinging a bucket. Heard a tanker 737 was due here soon.

Wasnt a Chinook. Only civvy Chinook in country right now (1 in Afghanistan, 1 in Papua New Guinea, 1 in another overseas location) is still up in Oregon. What you saw was one of the civvy CH-46 Sea Knights, more specifically a KV-107 from Columbia Helicopters. As of a few days ago it was based out of Temple, but may have moved by now. Has been here in Texas since January actually, according to the crew.

Actually, it could have been a Chinook. According to several media sites, the Texas NG has 2 Chinooks flying Bambi Bucket operations with 6 UH-60's on the fires.

[RickH]

now that's getting pretty darn fascinating right there.

Well, if the threat is there, and that one airplane takes the threat of losing everything you have away, I'd be pretty grateful. Don't forget, we have a little more understanding of how the fire fighters do their jobs than the average home owner. When an airplane that big, goes over lower than they've ever seen an airplane over their house, it will make an impression !

[AmericanSoldier15u]

Actually, it could have been a Chinook. According to several media sites, the Texas NG has 2 Chinooks flying Bambi Bucket operations with 6 UH-60's on the fires.

Agreed that there are TXNG chinooks and hawks on the fires, but my cmoment was made specifically to the fact that he said he say a CIVVY chinook. The TXNG Chinooks are D models, so dark olive drab. The civvy chinooks and sea knights that are flown by Columbia, a Columbia Sea Knight being what he would have seen, are bright red and white. Quite an obvious color difference.

[airnutz]

Actually, it could have been a Chinook. According to several media sites, the Texas NG has 2 Chinooks flying Bambi Bucket operations with 6 UH-60's on the fires.

Agreed that there are TXNG chinooks and hawks on the fires, but my cmoment was made specifically to the fact that he said he say a CIVVY chinook. The TXNG Chinooks are D models, so dark olive drab. The civvy chinooks and sea knights that are flown by Columbia, a Columbia Sea Knight being what he would have seen, are bright red and white. Quite an obvious color difference.

You got it AS15u, it was white 'n red, but I missed the CH-46 sponsons. Didn't have the computer time to find out which and whut, but figured someone would come along...

[airnutz]

Man, that kinda makes me want to learn more about this kind of aviating, guess I never really thought about it with quite as much focus before. One airplane 'saved the day', and 'can't believe how low they fly', now that's getting pretty darn fascinating right there.

Pogo, after seeing some of the wild gyrations and attitudes these guys pull off in photos over the years blasting down California(or where ever) canyons etc. dumping the load where needed...I figure it's as close as most civilians will ever see of a bird in combat mode and power and live(hopefully) to tell about it. The sight, the sound...must be awsome. Tho the cost of attendance can be quite prohibitive!

Edit- google, or one of these folks may find you the image of the P2V(IIRC) doing a dump, with its wings almost vertical in view of a lookout point carpark full of lucky folks, along the side of the hill just below just at the moment of dumping the slurry...a freaking stunning spectacle!

[AmericanSoldier15u]

You got it AS15u, it was white 'n red, but I missed the CH-46 sponsons. Didn't have the computer time to find out which and whut, but figured someone would come along...

well the Columbia Chinooks have the center tanks removed and fuel tanks inside instead, which allows for more lift from the rotor downwash by it being able to go straight to the ground and not having to go around the tanks, so it actually has 2 sponsons on each side. Columbia Sea Knights are set up the same way landing gear wise as the military ones, so it still has only the rear sponsons.

another easy way to tell them apart is that the Chinook's engines are mounted outside the aft pylon, while the Sea Knight's are mounted inside it.

[The Inspector]

The COLUMBIA S#!^hooks are model 234's most of which were done originally for BA to service North Sea oil rigs, not surplus military too many airliner windows installed.

[Flagon]

The DC 10 is totally AB Normal.
Who is flying the ship,this I'd never seeen.
Also:it's a converted liner at least thirthy years old,they found a very,very good airframe.

[krlang]

Shannon and I went for a little toot in NC29923 Today.
Her flight was out to KFIT and back, I asked if we could go up to KBVY. We flew out of Bedford, MA
The 1940 Waco UPF-7 was formerly owned by Dave Frawley, and based in New Bedford, MA

Great day for it...

[Canso42]

I like the video of the two CL-215's -with R-2800's- tanking from what's left of Lake Travis. I was scared they'd tank a half ton of gravel or tag a ditched stolen car in the lake. They're from the Minn. Dept of Natural Resources, N262NR, 263NR and 266NR. Glad to have them and I hope all our Texas WIXers are safe. Man those Pratts sounded good!
The Houston Barnacle 'City/State' section had a big photo of the DC-10 dropping on the Magnolia fire today.
Yesterday afternoon I thought I head a multi engine radial overhead but couldn't be sure. The sound was going away from me.

blue skies...

[Canso42]

Oops. Here's the link to the Canadairs scooping from Lake Travis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okhcnDY9C0E

[AmericanSoldier15u]

The COLUMBIA S#!^hooks are model 234's most of which were done originally for BA to service North Sea oil rigs, not surplus military too many airliner windows installed.

Yeah, they are old boys. The 107s are mostly Kawasaki built ones too. But yeah those 234s are STRIPPED inside, nothing like military Chinooks. We have 5 round windows per side (although normally the fwd one isnt visible because we fly with the crew access door open), while the 234s have many square windows usually

Oops. Here's the link to the Canadairs scooping from Lake Travis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okhcnDY9C0E

cool video! do you know if they are still tanking out of Lake Travis? Id love to jump down there sometime this week and get some shots of them tanking.

[AmericanSoldier15u]

The DC-10 and one of the Erickson Skycranes at Austin Bergstrom International Airport on Friday

[AmericanSoldier15u]

Older shots, from earlier in August, Columbia Helicopters KV-107 and the 2 S3 UH-1H Hueys

[myteaquinn]

Does it count if you see it at an air show. Saw this at Smith-Reynolds airport out side of Winstom-Salem NC.