Machinery Air Tankers

Air Tankers · **4 Likes**

Air tankers stationed at Billings this summer. K-1 and Tamron 70-200, center cropped. Xpst.

Lockheed P2V. Holds 7600 liters/2000 gallons of retardant. Last fire season for these venerable aircraft. I'll miss the sound of those round engines.

British Aerospace BAe 146. Holds 12,100 liters/3200 gallons of retardant.

McDonnell-Douglas MD87. Holds 15,100 liters/4000 gallons of retardant.

**eaglem** · 07-21-2017, 04:30 PM

Good well focussed captures of moving objects. The last shows a little grey smudge/dot, could that be dust on the sensor?

lesmore49 · 07-21-2017, 04:37 PM

Do you know what those old warhorses will be replaced by ? Beautiful shots...very clear...of some fine aircraft.

We use Canadair CL-415 water bombers out here. They don't have to return to base for a refill...they can go to a nearby lake...run down the lake and scoop up water for another run. This works out well here, as many forest fires are in isolated areas far away from bases .

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&uact=...jyn4zGoRlX6wUw

**wtlwdwgn** · 07-21-2017, 05:42 PM

Thanks eaglem, I'll check for dust bunnies.

Les, the older piston engine aircraft are being replaced by later model modified jet airliners like the MD87, BA46, B737, etc. Larger air tankers like the DC10 are being used in California. A couple of those CLs were down here last year dropping on a fire near Cody, WY. They were scooping water from the Buffalo Bill Reservoir. I'd liked to have been able to see that!

lesmore49 · 07-21-2017, 08:04 PM

Originally posted by wtlwdwgn

Thanks eaglem, I'll check for dust bunnies.

Les, the older piston engine aircraft are being replaced by later model modified jet airliners like the MD87, BA46, B737, etc. Larger air tankers like the DC10 are being used in California. A couple of those CLs were down here last year dropping on a fire near Cody, WY. They were scooping water from the Buffalo Bill Reservoir. I'd liked to have been able to see that!

I would of liked to see that too. We were in Cody in Sept. 2015 ... beautiful country. I know when we have large or many forest fires, neighboring provinces and states bring their water bomber planes, if the need is there. I think it's a reciprocal agreement that's been running for a number of years. It seems to work out well for all.

Thx for the info,

Les

SSGGeezer · 07-22-2017, 06:04 AM

I have seen Army and National Guard UH-60 Blackhawks picking up water to fight fires in 600 gallon "Bambi" buckets slung from their cargo hooks. Always interesting to watch.

**Sailor** · 07-22-2017, 08:23 AM

Terrific series, Steve. Informative with great photography.

Jer

**wtlwdwgn** · 07-22-2017, 09:11 AM

Thanks Jer and Geezer.

---------- Post added 07-22-17 at 10:50 AM ----------

Originally posted by lesmore49

I would of liked to see that too. We were in Cody in Sept. 2015 ... beautiful country. I know when we have large or many forest fires, neighboring provinces and states bring their water bomber planes, if the need is there. I think it's a reciprocal agreement that's been running for a number of years. It seems to work out well for all.

Thx for the info,

Les

Here's an article you might like. The CLs are using Yellowstone Lake to drop on the June fire by the East Entrance to Yellowstone.

lesmore49 · 07-22-2017, 09:56 AM

Originally posted by wtlwdwgn

Thanks Jer and Geezer.

---------- Post added 07-22-17 at 10:50 AM ----------

Here's an article you might like. The CLs are using Yellowstone Lake to drop on the June fire by the East Entrance to Yellowstone.

wtlwdwgn,

Thx. for the article. Looks interesting.

Les

**wtlwdwgn** · 07-22-2017, 11:26 AM

Originally posted by lesmore49

wtlwdwgn,

Thx. for the article. Looks interesting.

Les

Speaking of Cody.

You Tube

lesmore49 · 07-22-2017, 08:04 PM

Originally posted by wtlwdwgn

Speaking of Cody.Bombardier CL-415 Super Scooper Plane Dipping to battle the Whit Creek Fire outside Cody,WY - YouTube

Good article regarding using CL 415 water bombers in Yellowstone and that video of a CL scoping water...in Buffalo Bill Reservoir was quite good.

My wife and I were also in Yellowstone September 2015. We had a long drive through southern Manitoba, Southern Saskatchewan, Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas. I see you're from Billings and we stayed there a bit.

Views and history are fascinating in this region....both western Canada and the western states. The Bakken oil fields were busy though.

Les

Top banana · 07-23-2017, 10:08 AM

some great shots of unusual aircraft...we don't get to see anything like these used here in the UK..

**wtlwdwgn** · 07-23-2017, 12:04 PM

Thanks Top!

SSGGeezer · 07-23-2017, 06:18 PM

Saw a guy who built a remote control CL 415 from foam that even had a water pickup and dump control that could be triggered remotely. Pretty amazing stuff. The folks who fly all of these aircraft have to have big ones.

lesmore49 · 07-24-2017, 12:03 PM

Originally posted by SSGGeezer

Saw a guy who built a remote control CL 415 from foam that even had a water pickup and dump control that could be triggered remotely. Pretty amazing stuff. The folks who fly all of these aircraft have to have big ones.

They sure do. When they're pulling up fast from a load session on a lake...there are generally lot's of tall pine and spruce trees at the end of their lift off.

wtlwdwgn
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07-22-2017, 09:11 AM	#8
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,851 Original Poster	Thanks Jer and Geezer. ---------- Post added 07-22-17 at 10:50 AM ---------- Originally posted by lesmore49 I would of liked to see that too. We were in Cody in Sept. 2015 ... beautiful country. I know when we have large or many forest fires, neighboring provinces and states bring their water bomber planes, if the need is there. I think it's a reciprocal agreement that's been running for a number of years. It seems to work out well for all. Thx for the info, Les Here's an article you might like. The CLs are using Yellowstone Lake to drop on the June fire by the East Entrance to Yellowstone. Last edited by wtlwdwgn; 07-22-2017 at 09:50 AM.

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07-21-2017, 04:30 PM	#2
eaglem Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 43,160	Good well focussed captures of moving objects. The last shows a little grey smudge/dot, could that be dust on the sensor?

07-21-2017, 04:37 PM	#3
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,349	Do you know what those old warhorses will be replaced by ? Beautiful shots...very clear...of some fine aircraft. We use Canadair CL-415 water bombers out here. They don't have to return to base for a refill...they can go to a nearby lake...run down the lake and scoop up water for another run. This works out well here, as many forest fires are in isolated areas far away from bases . https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&uact=...jyn4zGoRlX6wUw

07-21-2017, 05:42 PM	#4
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,851 Original Poster	Thanks eaglem, I'll check for dust bunnies. Les, the older piston engine aircraft are being replaced by later model modified jet airliners like the MD87, BA46, B737, etc. Larger air tankers like the DC10 are being used in California. A couple of those CLs were down here last year dropping on a fire near Cody, WY. They were scooping water from the Buffalo Bill Reservoir. I'd liked to have been able to see that!

07-21-2017, 08:04 PM	#5
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,349	Originally posted by wtlwdwgn Thanks eaglem, I'll check for dust bunnies. Les, the older piston engine aircraft are being replaced by later model modified jet airliners like the MD87, BA46, B737, etc. Larger air tankers like the DC10 are being used in California. A couple of those CLs were down here last year dropping on a fire near Cody, WY. They were scooping water from the Buffalo Bill Reservoir. I'd liked to have been able to see that! I would of liked to see that too. We were in Cody in Sept. 2015 ... beautiful country. I know when we have large or many forest fires, neighboring provinces and states bring their water bomber planes, if the need is there. I think it's a reciprocal agreement that's been running for a number of years. It seems to work out well for all. Thx for the info, Les

07-22-2017, 06:04 AM	#6
SSGGeezer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Indiana, U.S. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,845	I have seen Army and National Guard UH-60 Blackhawks picking up water to fight fires in 600 gallon "Bambi" buckets slung from their cargo hooks. Always interesting to watch.

07-22-2017, 08:23 AM	#7
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,203	Terrific series, Steve. Informative with great photography. Jer

07-22-2017, 09:56 AM	#9
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,349	Originally posted by wtlwdwgn Thanks Jer and Geezer. ---------- Post added 07-22-17 at 10:50 AM ---------- Here's an article you might like. The CLs are using Yellowstone Lake to drop on the June fire by the East Entrance to Yellowstone. wtlwdwgn, Thx. for the article. Looks interesting. Les

07-22-2017, 08:04 PM	#11
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,349	Originally posted by wtlwdwgn Speaking of Cody.Bombardier CL-415 Super Scooper Plane Dipping to battle the Whit Creek Fire outside Cody,WY - YouTube Good article regarding using CL 415 water bombers in Yellowstone and that video of a CL scoping water...in Buffalo Bill Reservoir was quite good. My wife and I were also in Yellowstone September 2015. We had a long drive through southern Manitoba, Southern Saskatchewan, Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas. I see you're from Billings and we stayed there a bit. Views and history are fascinating in this region....both western Canada and the western states. The Bakken oil fields were busy though. Les

07-23-2017, 10:08 AM	#12
Top banana Veteran Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 339	some great shots of unusual aircraft...we don't get to see anything like these used here in the UK..

07-23-2017, 12:04 PM	#13
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,851 Original Poster	Thanks Top!

07-23-2017, 06:18 PM	#14
SSGGeezer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Indiana, U.S. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,845	Saw a guy who built a remote control CL 415 from foam that even had a water pickup and dump control that could be triggered remotely. Pretty amazing stuff. The folks who fly all of these aircraft have to have big ones.

07-24-2017, 12:03 PM	#15
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,349	Originally posted by SSGGeezer Saw a guy who built a remote control CL 415 from foam that even had a water pickup and dump control that could be triggered remotely. Pretty amazing stuff. The folks who fly all of these aircraft have to have big ones. They sure do. When they're pulling up fast from a load session on a lake...there are generally lot's of tall pine and spruce trees at the end of their lift off.