CAL FIRE’s new Copter 305 (N476DF) arrives at McClellan, May 12, 2022. Mike McKeig.Another of the 12 Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk helicopters that are being purchased by CAL FIRE arrived in the state today. Mike McKeig shot this photo as it landed at McClellan just before noon. It will be deployed at Prado, east of Los Angeles.
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As a former Cal Fire person who lives a few miles from McClellan I still appreciate the sound of the 2 blade rotor. Fewer all the time.
You are not alone. I’m not positive but I’m pretty sure there are no rotary wing pilots at CAL FIRE who were there when the Hueys came on line. Bob Fisher should take a bow, along with Cecil Gill for the initial success of the program. There is also a mechanic who was there at the start of the FEPP Huey program. As for the mechanic, and Derek you know who you are, that is a retirement party I want to be at.
I imagine the Hueys will be around for a while, doing what they can for CDF. I hope some will remain with the program for many years.
For the last 15 or 20 years folks were saying that they would be impossible to continue operating but people and the market place have proved that to be jumping the gun. The contractors who fly them aren’t going to find an affordable replacement and do a prety fine job of coming back year after year. But times are changing along with our planet and even if even if we change policy and let some fires burn, we’re going to be supressing fire to preserve life and property in ways not yet imagined. I was very fortunate to be a small part of the program both as a Dyn mechanic and an Aviation Officer.
Say what you will ( and I’m sure people wil do that) but the CF aviation program stands alone in the world in terms of many, many metrics that may be applied. Pretty sure that applies to the rest of CAL FIRE as well. Old Hueys never die, they just fly away. Rock on.
i keep asking on fb about firehawk 106 and never get a answer, she was delivered to sacramento in october but has not flown since early december. now she only covers maybe a more populated area than any cal fire copter hmmm
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