There are many different ideas and opinions about air tankers, and which ones work better than others. We sometimes hear that firefighters need an assortment of tools in their toolbox, and that various types and sizes of air tankers can fill niches.
But for a moment, let’s forget about the tools in the air tanker tool box, and imagine that the very improbable happens — Congress says they will appropriate money to design and build a fleet of purpose-built fixed wing air tankers, and directs the land management agencies to develop a few broad specifications.
For this exercise, assume the aircraft must be affordable (which could eliminate new purpose-built very large air tankers) and there will be only one design, not an assortment of “tools”.
Take the poll below, and if you have further thoughts, let us know in a comment.
Be sure and click “Vote” after answering each question.
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8 Comments
Great thread Bill!
Im not a pilot,nor am i a fire fighter any longer,yet its my summer time hobby to track airtanker issues and actions all summer long.my thoughts for a new type were spot on with the other voters,cept one..id go with an amphibious aircraft.
mind you ive designed this very aircraft many many times in my head..call it daydreaming at night as i lay in bed l trying to sleep..my mind is going 1000 miles an hour doing just this…designing a new tanker.
Only “designing” for a single aircraft makes it too hard!
I have been trying to figure this out sense I was a kid while being raised in my family-owned crop dusting business. I was fascinated with “borate bombers” from the beginning,1954. After fifty fire season (started with the F.S. 1964) worked for three different agencies and one private aviation fire company I still don’t have a clue of what would be the ideal multi purpose aviation asset. After thousands of initial attack fires in my career (air and ground) I have found one common factor that has lead to small containable fires escaping into the next burning period. The DELAYED use of aircraft (water dropping/retardant) in the early morning hours. Sometimes smoke plays a factor, but not always. Fire managers need to work on that one. In the early morning hours try to “beat” (delivering water/retardant) the sun getting on the fire.
…and adequate numbers of personnel on the ground.
Rim Fire is an excellent example of air tankers can’t hold a fire in check forever. Transitioning (the team) from a unit or forest into the next burning period plus preparing the teams operational plan has allowed many fires time to increase in size and intensity. Fresh fire fighter/ aircraft at sun up is the best chance of containment.
Agreed Johnny. Back in my days as a
Co-Pilot on DC6/7’s , some forests
had a policy of loading up take an Air Attack or Lead and go chase smoke.
door here, door there, etc. and buy time for ground crews…
Good policy…
Some very interesting results!
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