Aerial Fire Fighting - Some Current Photos

eetrojan

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eetrojan
There was a fire on the hillside near our home in Laguna Beach today. Here are some shots of the air tankers at work:

http://www.teamandras.com/temp/2015/Fire/Index.html

It's really amazing how steeply they turn and how low they get.

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Flying to the limits,at it's best.
 
In the mid-1970s I watched a CDF B-17 work a small brush fire. Just north of where Hwy 1 intersects I-5 northbound in Dana Point, they put the retardant right between the interstate and a mobile home park. Some of the roofs of the nearest homes had some red dusting but that was about it. The precision was a thing to behold.

A few years later I watched the same B-17 fly up a steep canyon at lo alt just northwest of Atascadero. They didn't even bother to climb much above TPA after departing Paso Robles which had the air attack base. It was like the belly would have weeds in it to clear the terrain after the drop.
 
Wow, it's amazing they can get a DC-9 to do that stuff. That particular plane started out service flying passengers for Iberian.
 
Wow, it's amazing they can get a DC-9 to do that stuff. That particular plane started out service flying passengers for Iberian.

I saw a DC-10 doing that in Colorado Springs. It was a sight to behold. That's a BIG jet.

Nose in the air, flaps down. In enough smoke to make KCOS go IFR on and off.
 
I saw a DC-10 doing that in Colorado Springs. It was a sight to behold. That's a BIG jet.

Nose in the air, flaps down. In enough smoke to make KCOS go IFR on and off.
When I was living out in CA and working up at VCV, the 10-Tanker group was based there. Takes some huge ones to fly that thing like they do.
 
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