"patrick mitchel" wrote in
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news.kjsl.com!news.lafn.org!not-for-mail From: "patrick mitchel"
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.piloting
Subject: the ideal fire/water bomber?
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2007 09:09:33 -0700
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"Bertie the Bunyip" wrote in message
.. .
"patrick mitchel" wrote in
:

After watching the multiplicity of ac doing their jobs on the
southern cal fires this last week and hearing that the guvmint C130
had the wrong sized tanks and the forestry dept and said guvmint
were haggling over what should be done, I thought I'd ask what is
the opinions of others regarding what current - or hypothetical
craft would be considered for the role. Thanks Pat


Well, C130 tanks are a lot bigger than what you would have in an
Agwagon or
something..
Old hercs are relatively inexpensive and it's whatever is wiling to
be spent on the job that dictates the size and suitability of the
airplane to the task.
Ideally, you could get the Russians to build an air force of AN225
modified
for the task, or you could get thousands upon thousands of smaller
aircraft
as well as the support to service them in the field, but who's gonna
pay for it?



Bertie
That's the other question- the dedicated craft that sits off work or
the
generalist that you haul the tanks in and out of depending on the
season- though fire season seems to be 365 d/yr here. Gotta say the
ericsson skycranes look amazing on the job.


Don't know a lot about firefighting, but the most popular new
contraption nowadays is the Canadair. Of couse, you have to have a large
enough body of water nearby to allow them their full potential.



Bertie