Tanker 60, a DC-7B, retires from firefighting. Photo by Tim Crippin October 14, 2020.Last week Air Tanker 60, a DC-7B (N838D), completed its last season as an aerial firefighting machine. On October 14 it departed from Medford, Oregon when the contract with the state of Oregon ended. Tim Crippen, who took these photos as it left, said it gave a wing wave to the tanker base as it passed by en route to Madras, Oregon.
Tanker 60, a DC-7B, retires from firefighting. Photo by Tim Crippin October 14, 2020.The aircraft, serial number 45347, was manufactured in 1958. It is powered by four 18-cylinder Wright TC18EA radial engines, each weighing 3,700 pounds with a displacement of 3,350 cubic inches. A lot of people will miss the sound of those huge engines over a fire.
A Wright Cyclone GR 3350 radial engine, similar to the ones on Tanker 60.
Tanker 60, a DC-7B, retires from firefighting. Photo by Tim Crippin October 14, 2020.
7 Comments
I wonder if it will be joining the collection at the Erickson Air Museum. I hope so.
A trip there is on my bucket list. That, and a trip to the Tanker 61 memorial at Klamath Falls.
What a bird. When I was flying lead, I dropped it so many times. She was flown by so many great flight crews. It will be missed.
There’s a name from the past…..Hope you are hale and hearty sir! You dropped on me alot through the years. Don Hill KCFD ret. Dozer Ops.
Many of us here in New Brunswick can identify with your sentiments. We replaced our fleet of Grumman Avengers with Air Tractors. The Tractors are said to be more efficient, but they lack the commanding presence of the old warbirds. We miss the sound of those big Wright Cyclone 2600s when the big birds took off and the growling resonance as they approached.
I miss the sounds of the big old radialengines humming overhead as they circle before their drops. The air tankers are leaving behind a hum that can’t be replaced by the newer jet engines. I stand and salute their service for the many lives they have saved. Amen.
These old birds were pure art will miss their sound
After being a Attack Pilot for the past 20 yrs been associated with most of all these old great aircraft’s and there crews,those people who make it all memorable, all are exceptional humans,and down to earth guys…
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