Air tankers photographed at Medford during the Badger Fire

Tanker 91, an S-2T (N482DF)
Tanker 91, an S-2T (N482DF), at Medford, OR July 18, 2020 by Tim Crippin.

Tim Crippin shot these photos of air tankers at Medford, Oregon July 18, 2020 while the aircraft were assisting firefighters on the Badger Fire burning near Yreka, California.

Thanks Tim!

The S-2Ts are operated by CAL FIRE and the BAe-146 by Neptune Aviation.

Tanker 94, an S-2T (N442DF)
Tanker 94, an S-2T (N442DF), at Medford, OR July 18, 2020 by Tim Crippin.
Tanker 01, a BAe-146 (N473NA)
Tanker 01, a BAe-146 (N473NA), at Medford, OR July 18, 2020 by Tim Crippin.
Tanker 90, an S-2T (N434DF)
Tanker 90, an S-2T (N434DF), at Medford, OR July 18, 2020 by Tim Crippin.
Tanker 95, an S-2T (N448DF)
Tanker 95, an S-2T (N448DF), at Medford, OR July 18, 2020 by Tim Crippin.

A shocking drop by a BAe-146

BAe-146 retardant drop
A BAe-146 exits the target area after making a retardant drop. Screenshot from the video below.

At the end of this video of a retardant drop by Neptune’s Tanker 01, a BAe-146, you will hear a four-letter word. After watching, you will fully understand why.

Did you notice the dust being kicked up as the aircraft skimmed over the ridge?

(UPDATE: a SAFECOM was filed that may be related to the incident above)

Tanker 01 is currently working for the U.S. Forest Service on an exclusive use contract.

Here is a great shot of a CL-215 or 415:

And another:

And, a Single Engine Air Tanker on the Paint Mine Fire three miles northwest of Nephi, Utah

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Air tankers at Jeffco, September 2, 2018

BAe-146 JEFFCO

Above: Air Tanker 15, a BAe-146, at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (JEFFCO) September 2, 2108. Photo by Andrew Morton.

Andrew Morton took these photos at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (JEFFCO) yesterday, September 2, 2018. Thanks Andrew! It is likely that some or all of these air tankers were working on the Britania Mountain Fire in southwest Wyoming.

BAe-146 JEFFCO
Air Tanker 01, a BAe-146, at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (JEFFCO) September 2, 2108. Photo by Andrew Morton.
Air Tanker 131, a C-130, at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (JEFFCO) September 2, 2108. Photo by Andrew Morton.

Photography Prints

U.S. air tanker dispatched to Canada

Neptune's five BAe-146 air tankers
Neptune’s Tanker 02, with four of her sister BAe-146 air tankers. Neptune Aviation photo, May 2014.

An air tanker operated by a United States firm was dispatched to Canada on Sunday. Today Neptune Aviation’s Tanker 02, a BAe-146, is in Grand Praire, Alberta (map).

Jennifer Jones, a spokesperson for the U.S. Forest Service, said there are no plans to send any additional air tankers to Canada at this time.

Tanker 02 does not have an exclusive use contract with the U.S. Forest Service, but received one of the 22 recently awarded Call When Needed contracts.

It is not common to send U.S. air tankers north across the border. But in recent years CV-580 air tankers have spent quite a bit of time in the United States after making the trip south.

Articles on Fire Aviation tagged CV-580.

Photos of air tankers on Oregon fires

Tanker 27, a P-3
Tanker 27, a P-3, on the Middle Fork Fire, Oregon, 2009. Todd McKinley.

Todd McKinley sent us these photos from fires in Oregon. Thanks Todd!

Tanker 01, a BAe-146
Tanker 01, a BAe-146, on the Sunflower Fire, Oregon, 2014 Todd McKinley.

The photo above of the BAe-146 clearly shows the second group of drop doors or nozzles that were added in front of the others to improve the release of the last 600 gallons or so of retardant, especially when dropping downhill.

Tanker 882
Tanker 882 on the South Fork Complex in Oregon, 2014. Todd McKinley.
Tanker 892
Tanker 892 on the South Fork Complex in Oregon, 2014. Todd McKinley.

Air tankers at Medford

Medford Tankers by Kristin Biechler (1)
DC-10s, Tankers 910 and 911, at Medford. Photo by Kristin Biechler.

Kristin Biechler sent us these photos that she and Dave Clemens shot at the Medford, Oregon Airport (map) over the last few days. She said her house is directly under the tankers’ flight path to the Happy Camp and Beaver Fires in northwest California. The planes depart MFR, she explained, bank west, and mostly follow Highway 238 toward Jacksonville and out to Applegate Reservoir and into California.

Medford Tankers by Kristin Biechler (2)
A P2V (Tanker 07) and a DC-10 at Medford. Photo by Kristin Biechler.
Neptune 01-10 by Kristin Biechler
Neptune’s BAe-146s, Tankers 01 and 10, at Medford. Photo by Kristin Biechler.
Medford tankers by Dave Clemens (1)
Tanker 910, a DC-10, at Medford. Photo by Dave Clemens.
Medford tankers by Dave Clemens (5)
Tanker 101, an MD-87, at Medford. Photo by Dave Clemens.
Medford tankers by Dave Clemens (4)
Tanker 101, an MD-87, at Medford. Photo by Dave Clemens.

Three more BAe-146 air tankers on contract

Three more of Neptune’s BAe-146 air tankers are being brought into the current fleet. Tom Harbour, Director of Fire and Aviation Management for the U.S. Forest Service, confirmed today at the Large Fire Conference in Missoula that two BAe-146s came on in the last few days and a third will be on board by June 1.

The three aircraft are being added to Neptune’s “legacy” air tanker contract using the “additional equipment” provision.

These three air tankers are being added to the fleet along with the two additional DC-10s that were announced last week. 10 Tanker Air Carrier had one DC-10 already working on a next-gen contract and a second was converted last week from a call when needed contract to exclusive use, using the additional equipment provision on their contract. 10 Tanker is converting a third DC-10 that will also be on the next gen exclusive use contract when it is complete this summer.

Neptune's five BAe-146 air tankers
File photo of Neptune’s five BAe-146 air tankers. Neptune Aviation photo.