Fire fighting

There is a wild fire on our property in Washington State. Since it threatens several residential area's, the response was pretty big. Four planes and a helicopter. Someone on Facebook got some good shots of the planes. Thought Id share the link here: Facebook

 

Some great shots in that collection!
And a lot of airpower for a (small) fire…..get em while their little!

 

The fire if it got down the hill, would threaten the town and residential neighborhoods. So they really hit it hard. Its now 60% contained. Haven't checked reports this morning, it could be worse again. High winds last night could have fanned the flames.

 

Cool.

Where is that? We have seen the Fireboss (single on floats) in action up on Lake Osoyoo as well as a PBY.

 

Its in a town called Wenatchee central Washington State. 250 acres burned, all of it on our property. No structures lost, only burned scrub brush and tree's. So we don't have any loss. Our employee said someone was camped on the side of the road. They started the fire.

 

They had a nice brush fire a few weeks ago along the north side of Rt2/97 east of town. Burned itself out without any intervention. Of course at that time I think all the assets were being used on the big fire along Rt20 near Mazama.

 

why do they fly with wheels down? Wheel wells and assemblies must get caked with retardant, no?

Image Unavailable, Please Login

.

 

There is an aerodynamic reason for it, which I once knew but have since forgotten. I think they would have preferred it otherwise, but you do what you have to do.

 

low and slow

.

 

Drag. Otherwise they would pick up speed when descending to the drop.

 

That might be true, but I remember something to do with the air flow pulling retardant back up at the back of the wing, or something like that.

 

Could be. Am not familiar with the DC-9 (MD-80) bomber platform. Gravity systems are more prone to local aero issues than pressurized systems in this regard.

 

Better low speed control in changing terrain.

 

Bob- Affirmative, putting the gear down changes the trim positions in many aircraft, enabling better low speed handling. On some aircraft, you have to select T/O and Land trim, but it is automatic on some.

 

Look at the size of the fuselage addition.......
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

When we lived in Sandpoint, Id. I saw a wisp of smoke appear on a hill south of town called Gold Mountain. It was a hot dry summer and i immediately called it in. By the time the airplane arrived it was a full blown fire on the south side of the hill near the crest. I spotted a DC-6 coming up from the south headed for the mountain. He dropped his gear and flew up the slope making a climbing turn to the left and dropped his load as he was at the apex of his climb before dropping down the face of the mountain. It stopped the fire and we saw some great flying with a honking big airplane.

 

I would bet that the entire tankage is strapped on the outside. Might have been easier than cutting and reinforcing a large penetration in the pressurized fuselage. And yes, they would have to retain the ability to pressurize the fuselage, although would be un-pressurized during the drop segment.
edit:
https://www.aerosociety.com/news/whisperjet-waterbomber/

Not seen in these pics, but the BAe 146 tailcone is actually a speed brake which is used during the drop.