I cant take pics but I have a Calfire DC-10, S-2 and a P-2 flying over my house at random intervals. Sure am likin the sound of the 3350's on the P-2.
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Re: OT!! CalFire Porn from Robbers Fire
Al, when it flys over your house at 1000' its scarey impressive. Shook the house even. They made several circles around Rollins lake. Al, did the troops in the trenches think they will get this fire out anytime soon? -
Re: OT!! CalFire Porn from Robbers Fire
Here's a short Youtube compilation of DC-10 retardent drops.
Scary-Impressive sums up my thoughts as well. Especially when you consider the zone of violent downdrafts, wind shear, and brutal turbulence that heavily loaded "heavy" often has to cross while pulling up hard to clear terrain!
Hats off to those flight crews for pulling it off safely (enough). !
Carbon is groovy man...Comment
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Re: OT!! CalFire Porn from Robbers Fire
They had a close call a few years back with the DC-10 when it encountered some "unfriendly type" air currents during a drop.
Apparently there was a fire crew fairly close to the drop and when the DC-10 started pruning the tops off the trees with one of the wing tips, the guys on the ground started looking for some place to hide.
KevinComment
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Re: OT!! CalFire Porn from Robbers Fire
I kinda figured that calfire was being a bit optimistic regarding their containment estimate. The DC-10 is supposed to be dropping again today. I am going to try and get to a good spot to watch and take some pics.
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Re: OT!! CalFire Porn from Robbers Fire
All we get here in Reno's north valleys is a %^$#load of smoke, can't see across the valley.
That is such a pretty area, sad. Going through there into the Sacto area Friday morning so i'll see for myself.
As an aside, my father was a fireman (30 years) and was dropped on when I was a kid. He was standing on top of the rig taking pictures of the B-17 doing drops when it let go and he was thrown off by the plume of slurry. He ended up home for a few days!Comment
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Re: OT!! CalFire Porn from Robbers Fire
When you read the stories about these fire tankers crashing, wings falling off... is this due to the fact that they are using older or retired commercial airline planes? When in fact, because of the loads and stress they put on them, they should be flying new planes?Comment
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Re: OT!! CalFire Porn from Robbers Fire
As I remember, the C-130 wing failure was an issue with A models and not unknown. The Privateer was determined to be a problem created during it's manufacture in WW2. The P2V here in Reno was a massive engine failure. Most others I hear of are, unfortunately, some kind of flight into terrain.
It's a VERY hard environment for the planes and the pilots. I would guess age and hard use would take it's toll but they are not falling out of the sky in pieces, yet.
I know budgets are tight but there are some really nice alternate aircraft out there. But politicians always seem to spend money on whatever gets votes, not what is practical.Comment
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Re: OT!! CalFire Porn from Robbers Fire
How does one transition into flying Air Tankers? Fly cargo, fly A10's, fly agricultural sprayers/crop dusters, fly Reno Air Racers, then you qualify to fly Air Tankers?
It's like a job for those who like to take some risks when flying. For those who are bored with routine flying.
Here is the video of the C130 air tanker when the wings came off.
Last edited by SkyvanDelta; 07-16-2012, 01:29 PM.Comment
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Re: OT!! CalFire Porn from Robbers Fire
There is a company in WA that is converting MD-87s for fire tanker usage now. They expect to have the first two certified in time for the 2013 season. The USFS has guaranteed them contracts for the first two, and they plan to add seven more beyond that. I think the perfect modern platform would be the MAFFS system from the C-130s integrated into the C-27 Spartan. It's can carry almost as much as the -130 but is more maneuverable and is rated for more G. It's even capable of basic aerobatics.Comment
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Re: OT!! CalFire Porn from Robbers Fire
SkyvanDelta
Yours is a timely question for me anyway. I'm a bored airline pilot so I'll be flying a SEAT (single eng air tanker) next fire season for a company in Arizona. Airline and ag flying is what my future employer was looking for. He commented, " I need a pilot that can fly like a cropduster and talk on the radio like an airline pilot".Comment
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Re: OT!! CalFire Porn from Robbers Fire
I used to have a father-in-law that flew tankers for the forest service mostly here in California, for over 35 years. He started as a WWII bomber pilot then flew crop dusters. He did some stunt flying and then flew for Air America in Tailand in the early 60's. Then he flew tankers for the next 35+ years. He retired after a couple of close calls while flying the S2's when he was in his 70's. He was quite an interesting old dude. He did not like or trust the S2's.KathleenComment
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Re: OT!! CalFire Porn from Robbers Fire
http://yubanet.com/nevada/Robbers.php
Stay safe out there !
Just saw where the Calf IC (fire located just east of Santa Margarita on hwy 58) has requested Tanker 911.
BobLast edited by Tibia; 07-16-2012, 06:21 PM.Comment
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Re: OT!! CalFire Porn from Robbers Fire
That's good to hear
For far too long, the boots had nothing but negative comments regarding them. There were only seen as photo ops and normally brought in at the very end. Great to see they do work well. Hope Cal Fire and USFS use them more often, and earlier.
Bob
- who misses the Mars overnighting at Elsinore -Comment
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Re: OT!! CalFire Porn from Robbers Fire
That DC-10 saved a lot of homes and land down here in TX last year. With the completely flat terrain around here it was a prefect place for that monster to make a real difference.Originally posted by Tibia View PostThat's good to hear
For far too long, the boots had nothing but negative comments regarding them. There were only seen as photo ops and normally brought in at the very end. Great to see they do work well. Hope Cal Fire and USFS use them more often, and earlier.
Bob
- who misses the Mars overnighting at Elsinore -Comment
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