747 Global SuperTanker - California Fires - Wine Country

Did some certification work on that. It is a follow-on to the -200 certified by Evergreen a few yrs ago (before they went bankrupt).

Next yr you will also see 737's
http://fireaviation.com/2017/05/21/coulson-to-convert-737s-into-air-tankers/

 

I saw that plane in person this past June. It looks really nice up close: https://www.flickr.com/photos/havblu/35293866446/in/album-72157685010541476/

 

I was always astonished that thing worked, but it seems to. Good for them for keeping it alive.

In regard to the 737s, sure, they're only a few years behind the MD-87 as a tanker!

 

It would be wonderful if some 747 drivers would give their opinions on what it takes to fly the Global SuperTankers over fires.

 

The airframe is not strengthened, and must fly within the existing certified flight envelope. The mission is to lay fire breaks, not directly attack the actual fire line. That said I'm sure it is fun to manuever such a big airplane at low altitude around terrain.