Ms. Paulina Vodanovic Rojas, Chile’s Under Secretary of the Armed Forces, visited the 747 SuperTanker on February 1 at the Santiago Airport. After she hurriedly toured the interior of the air tanker just before it took off to assist firefighters near Navidad she met with the press.
When the current wildfire siege began a few weeks ago, the Chilean government was reluctant to bring in large or very large air tankers from outside the country.
This is a very important part of evolving fire aviation history. The story goes back to 1981 when a paper was written on using “jumbo jets” to deliver retardant on interface fires. As with most new or different approaches to fighting fire it took years for the application to be applied. Although Evergreen with their 747 did deliver retardant on several fires it is the Chilean fires that have put the Global Supertanker 747 to the test day after day. Mike I’m the guy who wrote the 1981 published paper. Correct, I have been diagnosed with “b.s.j.s.” Good luck in your fire service career.
I agree. Its nice to have a big Tanker in the mix , But Boots on the Ground is what gets rid of Fire Producing materials .. Preferably Convict Boots on the Ground ,Clearing out those dead trees and under brush .That way they can be of some use to Society instead of being a drag on it!! CHAIN GANGS in Georgia used to do it all the time NUFF SAID!!
Hi. As a U.S. firefighter, I’d like to know why most of your reporting on the Chilean fires is on the VLAT. It’s ONE tool! It’s big. BFD. You must have big shiny jet syndrome.
Should have taken the Under Secretary for a ride. Why would the Chileans hesitate asking for assistance? Maybe the answer is; it happens all the time here in the U.S. We wait until things really get out of control, then we have too much too late. I’m impressed with the foundations leading the charge. Still in awe on how quickly the volunteer firemen (bomberos) put together the air attack base at Santiago. Great coverage!