Since the north bay area was on fire, I figured I should go air tanker hunting. I scored up in Middletown. I didn't see the GST 747 make any drops (kept getting up there as it made its last drop and was going home for the day.) but I did catch the DC10s doing their thing, and one of Neptune Aviation's BAE 146s making a drop front and center. I also caught the former Aero Union P3 Orion T23 on the fire, but didn't see a drop (was always 5 minutes too late, two days in a row.)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/75407771_10221699109853580_6648792060641935360_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQl01WkCE4rVx39U1VwAPl3-plkxCXfjSRU7T0-D3fTBlM9WP_0berFASROWpmcbr7k&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=c90c505b322d97c79871b2a5d492b819&oe=5E4C5BFF)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/73158196_10221699110693601_7926221055092326400_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQkoQlA_HAk4XgHlMynYWR6nkPg-lp9rpqIcz0-mNPJBrPMkddkDt9f00KR2LCYLf8k&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=ca707c3894b66160ba62658b02eb7bb3&oe=5E17496F)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/76725990_10221699111653625_4434922752415105024_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQlv2WVrEcMyaDV5X240DMoBQO1te1pgtF_O1HF_N3CNAbZKpbEEjQn02a-z3RO2CTA&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=74c6eac8a0101e3511771003288b5db7&oe=5E59A07E)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/73475210_10221699111373618_4535343021985628160_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQkfoKsIxllcykLpIQEJHT8YfjLXcjY11oaIMzZ_YG1V9bYaYJfVU0McUnJFcIT254c&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=b6ce8b222be2ff1c0f7e5cc5f6bec5bf&oe=5E18D0DD)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/72781755_10221699113213664_8089140000832094208_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQnHlKyu12NwhCzSz0rNc0-D7JztilfhYCPh1BSMKCgrb4x4fgNQt2WqYiprQrXx6Jk&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=f4f258d41c5ae9f2eb6dbc7fd07e9cbe&oe=5E53AA42)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/73460526_10221699112973658_5945554817337262080_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQmBssPJp72-3-FoIIhzyxEDDrmtY9Su3R0kt07659E85fkNHpJPQrtGFtbXwBelHb4&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=3b96fb0e4312263b566440ab842ad44a&oe=5E1C65B4)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74680807_10221699115293716_170965030097911808_o.jpg?_nc_cat=105&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQlFt80SmKvSYcfcBPTXI0xGse9OvuS9jhme39ovbP4eOpCascB_Lvox6SlrlU2WMOc&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=7af9c00fc9b75501007a8edd272a96a1&oe=5E47BB66)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74176408_10221699118053785_5647657414695059456_o.jpg?_nc_cat=106&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQljFahM4FZ-HPL1YTpdfdSia4llTQMoh911L2jIOFePVTnIlOPpVyofBJ3bNRAeWDM&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=cbbb82b0c7fae315c744f6269ef103f4&oe=5E549B0B)
The new Coulson C130 had the last drop of the afternoon on tuesday, unfortunately it was on the other side of the mountain.
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74242384_10221699117373768_3744991081570238464_o.jpg?_nc_cat=108&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQlB5vDtib-8BoHq_-nHWsUr8OP5tMrjatc77BKwLomsnn1NvXvjmLAmu9IQTKqLge0&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=64c40d51630d8a82f7ec950a7378d51d&oe=5E614744)
Wednesday I had been watching Flight Radar 24 for most of the day while at work, the action was still in Middletown, so what the heck, I'll make another run up there.
Once again I missed T23 making a drop, he was headed home for the day.
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74887148_10221708167920026_2629797789462167552_o.jpg?_nc_cat=106&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQlURUMQKh10gAHfHt4Ch7CPdS28NNTURjDN2NxiZO0qpPAt9PiPnSR8apyqDbscZNw&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=651341513bba4bb03afea79cae8f42a6&oe=5E5C65EA)
The original plan was to shoot from the spot where I was on Tuesday, but once I was there, I could see they were dropping further up the canyon, and there was no one saying I couldn't head up the dirt road... About 2 miles up the road started to climb up the side of the canyon, and I found the spot to be.
OV10 Lead 505 had Neptune Aviation's T41 in tow, and they were lining up to drop in the canyon...
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/73157120_10221708349284560_8660504001344700416_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQnSo24WHl6pHwz5LpRT7H3o1lkiiC2VSgxgS29LWNihfhEDwK894oeP4Zu-KMsM0jA&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=6332423331b8863f09f739590687d9b8&oe=5E5317FE)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/73388442_10221720277622761_3216954685369876480_o.jpg?_nc_cat=102&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQnIHj0uIWWXXtfoKesKbMh9k-n1ll-39mZJC1QfDlL_qvwszwZpaaIYKij-Vte-aNE&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=d5ea3b3904814209a14677c371f8e662&oe=5E4C918D)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/75303697_10221708029836574_8966422272592052224_o.jpg?_nc_cat=102&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQlVsddMOPPcZamW0Gm8IMqLN_bb4REl8xks5ns_QxI7v4PtmE9zbAN_IaiuV9zhYBk&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=9dd8935c67957b18462d1d5b9c2dc3b3&oe=5E4BCF42)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/73323856_10221708212361137_6780496640068288512_o.jpg?_nc_cat=105&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQnyDy3uxZinvyxdEj2skEu-MdhQlyrDuu32FHGxVbrIrupnve0I7O-7Lt_DglFsc1o&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=65922137e707799743a6a4734b31f2a0&oe=5E1D0747)
The drop by T41 was the last drop by a tanker of the afternoon. The Skycranes however were working late.
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/73171598_10221708453487165_1952032107404460032_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQlNW2yAfwe9BbXRM947is1RvpXp534ImmmW8fQk0Y1jk5Uo5BoSq0UM7ts7zTzk5QU&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=fda1ca0084765d716b7a69ea3fcc2f9d&oe=5E517628)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/75246763_10221720483507908_3473244858620051456_o.jpg?_nc_cat=108&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQkR1Bovepsw6lGO_DxovA2BG4EwBH5YvpEGLwMvLbVjjUfJEyrydKqCQOPZJFXFiSw&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=1b0f31f5a723b318d0d65c98374bdb50&oe=5E657081)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/73252832_10221720518828791_7951581587139723264_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQllu1e75v6Os4KSHaCNRBHUNWjGvdE3pJ7A2P6DXjhTFxLOgFeGoPZf174TLjt4sbM&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=8f8fdcc8d630c7d98ee1a18a7ce57ad4&oe=5E1B6BAB)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74537920_10221720417586260_3098718440483979264_o.jpg?_nc_cat=101&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQnSD2qvxEKYvn5Ruq4XcRFJBqkUn5H7dddC9HXT8jHNngZqhTiTYfn-3b1r0DeWWJI&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=4bdd8c330fdcf6f09fd3590e9620d453&oe=5E1EC3F4)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74428855_10221720307663512_5405185285107482624_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQmXk8-A4zUUbGK0W0kGG1voI8bvtUZm27ZD6EzvJEAEHGXsttMnEKtTy9UWQFhoFpY&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=dadadf84beb1d77d2c1a1dfad5921884&oe=5E5CAE6F)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/72706834_10221708741854374_873008895264555008_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQlYEyDteqnoW6dJRg51IMWJVv9e-2IJjm-WNQrPDJrur5RyoR-7UXaww_0cCGIS0Aw&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=47b133cef7fb5fe97da8ad4ae273b06c&oe=5E5495AB)
I should have taken Wednesday off work and just camped out up there.
Will
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/75407771_10221699109853580_6648792060641935360_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQl01WkCE4rVx39U1VwAPl3-plkxCXfjSRU7T0-D3fTBlM9WP_0berFASROWpmcbr7k&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=c90c505b322d97c79871b2a5d492b819&oe=5E4C5BFF)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/73158196_10221699110693601_7926221055092326400_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQkoQlA_HAk4XgHlMynYWR6nkPg-lp9rpqIcz0-mNPJBrPMkddkDt9f00KR2LCYLf8k&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=ca707c3894b66160ba62658b02eb7bb3&oe=5E17496F)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/76725990_10221699111653625_4434922752415105024_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQlv2WVrEcMyaDV5X240DMoBQO1te1pgtF_O1HF_N3CNAbZKpbEEjQn02a-z3RO2CTA&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=74c6eac8a0101e3511771003288b5db7&oe=5E59A07E)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/73475210_10221699111373618_4535343021985628160_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQkfoKsIxllcykLpIQEJHT8YfjLXcjY11oaIMzZ_YG1V9bYaYJfVU0McUnJFcIT254c&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=b6ce8b222be2ff1c0f7e5cc5f6bec5bf&oe=5E18D0DD)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/72781755_10221699113213664_8089140000832094208_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQnHlKyu12NwhCzSz0rNc0-D7JztilfhYCPh1BSMKCgrb4x4fgNQt2WqYiprQrXx6Jk&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=f4f258d41c5ae9f2eb6dbc7fd07e9cbe&oe=5E53AA42)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/73460526_10221699112973658_5945554817337262080_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQmBssPJp72-3-FoIIhzyxEDDrmtY9Su3R0kt07659E85fkNHpJPQrtGFtbXwBelHb4&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=3b96fb0e4312263b566440ab842ad44a&oe=5E1C65B4)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74680807_10221699115293716_170965030097911808_o.jpg?_nc_cat=105&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQlFt80SmKvSYcfcBPTXI0xGse9OvuS9jhme39ovbP4eOpCascB_Lvox6SlrlU2WMOc&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=7af9c00fc9b75501007a8edd272a96a1&oe=5E47BB66)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74176408_10221699118053785_5647657414695059456_o.jpg?_nc_cat=106&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQljFahM4FZ-HPL1YTpdfdSia4llTQMoh911L2jIOFePVTnIlOPpVyofBJ3bNRAeWDM&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=cbbb82b0c7fae315c744f6269ef103f4&oe=5E549B0B)
The new Coulson C130 had the last drop of the afternoon on tuesday, unfortunately it was on the other side of the mountain.
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74218601_10221699117293766_1596124273712300032_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQn-Ku_D8RouGwuAFcuXxf8s3g1pT9Kk2M1uT6kE8XClmjJ7UG_tKq_JhJJFduCaq3I&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=aa530c8a601c16b0faef8e2edbf1dc6d&oe=5E4CB3CB)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74242384_10221699117373768_3744991081570238464_o.jpg?_nc_cat=108&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQlB5vDtib-8BoHq_-nHWsUr8OP5tMrjatc77BKwLomsnn1NvXvjmLAmu9IQTKqLge0&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=64c40d51630d8a82f7ec950a7378d51d&oe=5E614744)
Wednesday I had been watching Flight Radar 24 for most of the day while at work, the action was still in Middletown, so what the heck, I'll make another run up there.
Once again I missed T23 making a drop, he was headed home for the day.
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74887148_10221708167920026_2629797789462167552_o.jpg?_nc_cat=106&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQlURUMQKh10gAHfHt4Ch7CPdS28NNTURjDN2NxiZO0qpPAt9PiPnSR8apyqDbscZNw&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=651341513bba4bb03afea79cae8f42a6&oe=5E5C65EA)
The original plan was to shoot from the spot where I was on Tuesday, but once I was there, I could see they were dropping further up the canyon, and there was no one saying I couldn't head up the dirt road... About 2 miles up the road started to climb up the side of the canyon, and I found the spot to be.
OV10 Lead 505 had Neptune Aviation's T41 in tow, and they were lining up to drop in the canyon...
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/73157120_10221708349284560_8660504001344700416_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQnSo24WHl6pHwz5LpRT7H3o1lkiiC2VSgxgS29LWNihfhEDwK894oeP4Zu-KMsM0jA&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=6332423331b8863f09f739590687d9b8&oe=5E5317FE)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/73388442_10221720277622761_3216954685369876480_o.jpg?_nc_cat=102&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQnIHj0uIWWXXtfoKesKbMh9k-n1ll-39mZJC1QfDlL_qvwszwZpaaIYKij-Vte-aNE&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=d5ea3b3904814209a14677c371f8e662&oe=5E4C918D)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/75303697_10221708029836574_8966422272592052224_o.jpg?_nc_cat=102&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQlVsddMOPPcZamW0Gm8IMqLN_bb4REl8xks5ns_QxI7v4PtmE9zbAN_IaiuV9zhYBk&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=9dd8935c67957b18462d1d5b9c2dc3b3&oe=5E4BCF42)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/73323856_10221708212361137_6780496640068288512_o.jpg?_nc_cat=105&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQnyDy3uxZinvyxdEj2skEu-MdhQlyrDuu32FHGxVbrIrupnve0I7O-7Lt_DglFsc1o&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=65922137e707799743a6a4734b31f2a0&oe=5E1D0747)
The drop by T41 was the last drop by a tanker of the afternoon. The Skycranes however were working late.
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/73171598_10221708453487165_1952032107404460032_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQlNW2yAfwe9BbXRM947is1RvpXp534ImmmW8fQk0Y1jk5Uo5BoSq0UM7ts7zTzk5QU&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=fda1ca0084765d716b7a69ea3fcc2f9d&oe=5E517628)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/75246763_10221720483507908_3473244858620051456_o.jpg?_nc_cat=108&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQkR1Bovepsw6lGO_DxovA2BG4EwBH5YvpEGLwMvLbVjjUfJEyrydKqCQOPZJFXFiSw&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=1b0f31f5a723b318d0d65c98374bdb50&oe=5E657081)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/73252832_10221720518828791_7951581587139723264_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQllu1e75v6Os4KSHaCNRBHUNWjGvdE3pJ7A2P6DXjhTFxLOgFeGoPZf174TLjt4sbM&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=8f8fdcc8d630c7d98ee1a18a7ce57ad4&oe=5E1B6BAB)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74537920_10221720417586260_3098718440483979264_o.jpg?_nc_cat=101&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQnSD2qvxEKYvn5Ruq4XcRFJBqkUn5H7dddC9HXT8jHNngZqhTiTYfn-3b1r0DeWWJI&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=4bdd8c330fdcf6f09fd3590e9620d453&oe=5E1EC3F4)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74428855_10221720307663512_5405185285107482624_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQmXk8-A4zUUbGK0W0kGG1voI8bvtUZm27ZD6EzvJEAEHGXsttMnEKtTy9UWQFhoFpY&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=dadadf84beb1d77d2c1a1dfad5921884&oe=5E5CAE6F)
![](https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/72706834_10221708741854374_873008895264555008_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&cachebreaker=sd&_nc_oc=AQlYEyDteqnoW6dJRg51IMWJVv9e-2IJjm-WNQrPDJrur5RyoR-7UXaww_0cCGIS0Aw&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=47b133cef7fb5fe97da8ad4ae273b06c&oe=5E5495AB)
I should have taken Wednesday off work and just camped out up there.
Will
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