Airtanker Memories

wingtip · **Joined:** Wed Oct 09, 2013 11:17 am **Posts:** 1

I recently discovered what I think is the crash site of a TBM Avenger that was orange in color atop a mountain in the southwest. The color seems to be an exact match to the planes in the first photos of this thread. I would like to get in touch with the author of this thread (LT51506) to see if he has any information regarding this site/tbm etc. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. -Adam

Happydays · **Joined:** Fri Nov 22, 2013 4:31 am **Posts:** 4

Thank you for sharing your pictures.

A wonderful collection to have.

sledge39 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 29, 2006 1:01 pm **Posts:** 262

...this thread needs more activity so here's a few...

... N51701...the l-o-o-o-ng tank DC-7 at Pima ( possibly the first DC-7 tanker ??)

..."Charlie zero-one" / "Tanker zero-one", later "Tanker 31"

...hauling retardant at ONT (now KONT) Ontario, CA...November, 1974

daviemax · **Posted:** Thu Dec 19, 2013 8:20 am

Thanks to everyone for posting these photos. They illustrate the lingering value of ex-military aircraft in the most highly-demanding vocation. And - as everyone on WIX knows - without this vocation the world would be far poorer for having lost many these historic aircraft.

WoodyStorey · **Joined:** Sun Mar 01, 2015 8:59 pm **Posts:** 2

I do believe most of these aircraft met their end at the Davis Monthan Boneyard. I see there are still a few planes with that particular paint scheme still out there....how come my profile has "former lurker" ...not sure I like the sound of that....lol!...

pilotpiper · **Posted:** Thu Mar 05, 2015 12:36 pm

Great post! Thanks for sharing!

RNDMTRS4EVR · **Posted:** Sat Apr 04, 2015 1:53 pm

...this thread needs more activity so here's a few...

... N51701...the l-o-o-o-ng tank DC-7 at Pima ( possibly the first DC-7 tanker ??)

..."Charlie zero-one" / "Tanker zero-one", later "Tanker 31"

...hauling retardant at ONT (now KONT) Ontario, CA...November, 1974

Was operated by T&G Aviation had a 16 door tank! and yes was one of the First DC-7 tankers. Now a resident of Pima as mentioned.

Scott.....

sledge39 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 29, 2006 1:01 pm **Posts:** 262

RNDMTRS4EVR wrote:

Was operated by T&G Aviation had a 16 door tank! and yes was one of the First DC-7 tankers. Now a resident of Pima as mentioned.
Scott.....

..Hi Scott ...that tank really looked long and huge...any info on the total capacity and what load they actually flew with ?

wendovertom · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2016 6:31 pm

Awesome thread - I have looked through a few times and finally decided to say "thank you"!!

Tom P.

Larry Kraus · **Posted:** Wed Apr 05, 2017 11:23 am

Sledge, I'm not sure of the actual capacity of the long retardant tank on T&G's Tanker 01, but the contract load was for 3000 gallons, the same as DC-7's with the Aero Union tank. From what I understand from talking to pilot's who flew this airplane and both lead plane pilots and air attack people, the very shallow tank didn't have the head pressure of the deeper Aero Union tank and the resulting drops did not have enough density to deliver as heavy a coverage on the ground. That said, it was easier to make longer drops at lower coverage levels. I'll ask around and see if I can find anyone who knows the total tank capacity.

Lon Moer · **Posted:** Mon Jun 12, 2017 11:51 pm

I've been having a blast watching old Air Tanker films on youtube.

youtube - Firebombers @ Hemet 1980

youtube - Air Tankers at Wenatchee in the Golden Age - 1970

Erik Thingbo · **Joined:** Fri Jul 15, 2011 4:54 am **Posts:** 16

I am looking for a photo of Catalina PBY-6A, Bu46644 as N6458C when it flew with
Liston Aircraft, Klamath Falls, OR, 1963-1966 as Tanker F46.
Kind regards
Erik

Erik Thingbo · **Joined:** Fri Jul 15, 2011 4:54 am **Posts:** 16

Thanks for the great images on this interesting page about Air Tankers Memories.
Now my question is whether there should be one, which could help me to find images of two PBY Catalina Tankers, as I will be very happy to see.
The first is Catalina PBY-6A, Bu46644 as N6458C when it flew for Liston Aircraft, Klamath Falls, OR, 1963-1966 as Tanker F46.
The other is Canso A, ex. RCAF11040 as N9752Z when it flew for B. B. Burson & Assocs. Columbia Calif. In 1962-64 as Tanker E48.
I will be more than happy for any help.
Kind regards
Erik

sledge39 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 29, 2006 1:01 pm **Posts:** 262

... the bicentennial C-54 ...

1976, Aero Union's N62296 was re-registered N76AU and painted as "Tanker 76" for the bicenntenial year.

In 1977 the tanker number was changed to "16" (part of the 7 was repainted to a 1).

(1) Ontario (ONT) June 1977

(2-4) Hemet (HMT) 31 July 1977

(5) later repainted red/white...dropping at Banning, CA 28 Sept 1987

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