Water bomber

[Billrog]

In 2010 a saw mill 2 miles form our place had a fire in the log yd. so I took a few pics of the water bomber here's one.

 

[Thomas]

Wouldn't want to be under him when he drops his load.

 

[bcp]

I would think they could be used more than they are, for more than forest fires.

Here is one responding to a truck fire.

Bruce

 

[PILOON]

Amazing aircraft.-(may I intrude?)
I used to have a business at Dorval (Mtl)

A CL215 was doing demonstrations for VIP's dropping colored water when one engine failed and the other did a wild 'runaway'.
The pilot did a few heroic maneuvers to avoid homes, crashed wing down and cartwheeled bursting in flame.
He basically glided to vacant land to execute a controlled crash.
Since I was on the tarmac servicing an A/C at the time (am mechanic + pilot) I became part of the inquiry.

The CL215 being so rugged the crew survived. It even has a roof hatch for egress.

The investigation determined that a mini rivet that is used to attach the logo to the engine had fallen into the oil system causing the propeller governor to malfunction.

When the crash truck chased to crash scene thru the fields it simply mowed fences and anything in its path.
Those trucks are 4 x 4 and have some 650 HP driving them. Their interiors are more like the space shuttle due to rough rides they take.
While the 0-60 is better than family sedans they burn gals/mile vs mpg.

 

[Baby Grand]

DC-6?
Has to be one of the most dangerous flying jobs that doesn't involve getting shot at.

 

[jimmyj]

Very cool. I'd love to be a passenger in one while it was at work.

 

[ferrari99]

I would have thought choppers would be more useful cause they can hover...

 

[flyerdan]

Looks like an Electra in the top pic. I used to work at a place that made fiberglass buckets for helicopter firefighting, they are great if you have a water source close by, like a winding river or pond. If you have a large lake or long stretch of fairly straight river the 215 wins hands down on reloading time as they do it on the step.

 

[Baby Grand]

Looks like an Electra in the top pic. I used to work at a place that made fiberglass buckets for helicopter firefighting, they are great if you have a water source close by, like a winding river or pond. If you have a large lake or long stretch of fairly straight river the 215 wins hands down on reloading time as they do it on the step.

We called those chopper carried ones "Bambi Buckets".

Yes - that's a Lockheed.
"max payload weight is approximately 12 tonnes (26,000lb)"
That's a lot of water.

 

[oosik]

I sure hope those guys in the video were under cover. During a recent wildfire here(Watermelon Hill Wildfire) the choppers filled their buckets out of my little lake. It was exciting to see them operate.