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Photos of the new jet-powered air tanker being tested

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags

air tanker 40 test at Missoula

Bill Moss was kind enough to take these photos and send them to us, of Neptune’s new air tanker 40 being tested at the Missoula airport today. He was not aware it was going to be tested but was able to quickly take a couple of shots. Thanks Bill!

The aircraft is a BAe-146 that was converted by Tronos from a passenger airliner into an air tanker.

After taking these he said he called Neptune to ask when the next test would occur, but they don’t want to give out that information, saying only “keep watching”.

air tanker 40 test

Like we said yesterday, we are still offering a free Wildfire Today mug for the first very good photos of Tanker 40 being tested. Send your photos to bill d o t wildfiretoday a t g mail d o t c o m. If you can’t figure out that spam-defeating address, drop us a line at our Contact Us page.

Below is another photo from a different source of Tanker 40 on the tarmac at Missoula today.

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Neptune Aviation to test new air tanker in Missoula

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags

KPAX is reporting that Neptune Aviation is going to test a “new generation of air tankers” beginning today, July 26, at the Missoula International Airport.

Beginning on Monday, there will be multiple aerial retardant drops on a U.S. Forest Service grid at the airport.

The grid elevations are one of several steps in the process to develop the new generation of air tankers.

We are thinking that they will be testing their new Tanker 40,  Neptune Aviation’s BAe-146 conversion, that we covered on May 26. This drop testing is no doubt part of the process to confirm the retardant coverage, part of the process toward obtaining certification from the Interagency Air Tanker Board.

new air tanker
Neptune Aviation's new air tanker, a BAe 146-200 conversion.

Win a free Wildfire Today coffee mug!

Wildfire Today mugThe first person to submit a very good photo of Tanker 40 dropping will win a Wildfire Today coffee mug! (Not just ANY photo — it has to be a very good photo.) Send your photos to bill d o t wildfiretoday a t g mail d o t c o m. If you can’t figure out that spam-defeating address, drop us a line at our Contact Us page.

UPDATE @ 7:45 p.m., July 26

I don’t know if Neptune tested Tanker 40 today or not, but here is a photo of it sitting in a hangar at Missoula airport this evening.

air tanker 40 in hangar at Missoula
Air Tanker 40 in a hangar at Missoula airport, 7:50 p.m. MT, July 26

Montana: Map of Dominic Point fire

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized3 Comments on Montana: Map of Dominic Point fire
map of Dominic Point fire in Montana
This map of the Dominic Point fire east of Corvallis was made from heat detected by satellites at 3:55 a.m. July 25. The red areas were actively burning at that time.

This map shows the location of the Dominic Point fire which is about 8 miles east of Corvallis, MT and about 12 miles northeast of Hamilton. As we reported yesterday, the fire was first detected at 3 p.m. on July 25. The photo we posted then showed very active burning within two hours of the first report.

map of dominic point fire
Map showing location of Dominic Point fire in Montana

The Situation Report, using data from last night, listed the size at 300 acres, but this fire might have some potential. Resources assigned at that time included two crews, two helicopters, and eight engines.

The fire briefly threatened the Willow Mountain Lookout tower, but a helicopter evacuated the lookout and four civilians after the fire cut off the only road leading out of the area.

We will post more information here as it becomes available.

UPDATE @ 12:10 p.m. MT, July 26

The Bitterroot National Forest is reporting that the fire has burned 700-1,000 acres. Air tankers worked the fire heavily late yesterday and covered the Willow Point lookout with retardant, which appears to have survived so far.

Today firefighters will concentrate on limiting the fire’s spread to the west to keep it off private land in the valley which is 1.5 miles away. About 100 firefighters will be on the fire today, including three hot shot crews and four helicopters.

Rick Floch, the fire management officer for the Bitterroot NF said the area contains some really old stagnant stands of lodgepole pine and sub-alpine fir with a lot of dead fuel on the ground.

UPDATE @ 8:10 p.m. MT, July 26

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Non-traditional use of wildland fire equipment

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized10 Comments on Non-traditional use of wildland fire equipment
Fire in Security Building, Grand Forks, ND April, 1997
Fire in Security Building, Grand Forks, ND, April 19, 1997

The story below about the air tanker being used on a burning ship 60 miles at sea reminded me of the when a helicopter with a bucket was used to fight a structure fire in the Security Building at 101 N. Third Street in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It happened on April 19, 1997 when the city was flooded, fire trucks could not get through the water, and the city water system had failed due to the flood, making hydrants useless. An air tanker may have been used on the fire also.

I have seen photos of a helicopter dropping water on the burning structure surrounded by water, but this photo was the only one I could find. If anyone has a better picture, let us know.

What other examples are you aware of when wildland firefighting apparatus was used in a non-traditional way?