The government of Manitoba, Canada, has purchased four CL-415 air tankers from Bombardier which will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2010 and will continue into 2012. Manitoba currently has seven CL-215 air tankers, some of which will be replaced by the new aircraft.
The difference between the CL-215 and the 415 is that the 415 has turboprop engines, and has an updated cockpit, aerodynamics enhancements and changes to the water-release system.
Since 1994, Bombardier has delivered 75 CL-415 air tankers to the governments of Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Ontario, Quebec and Spain. In addition, 64 CL-215 piston engine aircraft are still in service.
When we in Croatia see the CL-415 at the sky, we are encouraged and we know everything will end just fine!
With all due respect to our private vendors who operate air tankers and the wonderful old aircraft they fly in, it seems time for a switch over to newer aircraft.
The CL-415 is a good example along with newer models of C-130s with the new retardant system.
They are expensive but with that comes improved performance, safety and in the case of the CL-415 aircraft built from the ground up as tankers.
It was allways a thrill to hear the old radial engines drone up in the sky and watch them come in and make the drop. Some where I have a old orange nomex shirt with stains from one of thoese drops.