Strange aircraft

[BobH]

Saw several strange looking planes land today. They looked like a typical crop duster but were on floats/pontoons. I think they were these https://airtractor.com/aircraft/at-802f-fire-boss/ . Guessed at the time they might have been for fire fighting. The Ontario government gave up on this type of fire fighting aircraft a long time ago. This is the standard firefighting aircraft employed by the Ontario government https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada..._(cropped).jpg .

Bob

[gssixgun]

We have a couple of the 802 Fire Boss Stationed here during fire season

They use the big lake, it is pretty cool being out on the boat when they drop in to fill up, they are really fast on the turn around times...

[BobH]

We have a couple of the 802 Fire Boss Stationed here during fire season

They use the big lake, it is pretty cool being out on the boat when they drop in to fill up, they are really fast on the turn around times...

We like a little more water per drop on the fires up here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MROYVoZXALo

One of a couple of CL 415s water bombing a fire in the Pulp and Paper Mill wood yard where I worked. Nice to have them stationed less than a mile away at the Thunder Bay airport.



Bob

[gssixgun]

What they are realizing is that if the 802's are there and ready to respond two of them can hit a small fire REALLY fast up on the hillsides before it spreads.

Many of the fires here are probably like many of yours in pretty inaccessible areas between the 802's and the Logging Helicopters that can carry the sling buckets They can hit them while they are still in the 1-5 acre size..

That 415 is just impressive as hell

[BobH]

What they are realizing is that if the 802's are there and ready to respond two of them can hit a small fire REALLY fast up on the hillsides before it spreads.

Many of the fires here are probably like many of yours in pretty inaccessible areas between the 802's and the Logging Helicopters that can carry the sling buckets They can hit them while they are still in the 1-5 acre size..

That 415 is just impressive as hell

Same can be said of the CL 415 but with a larger payload. IIRC the Ontario government has not operated single engine fire fighting aircraft since at least the early 1970s. That's why I though it strange that anyone would use a single engined agri plane as a fire fighter. Live and learn.

Bob

[gssixgun]

Thought you might like this Bob

I took it this morning heading out to the lake looks like we have 3 of the 802's on station now, and according to some of the people in our Boaters Group on FB one of the 415's s is working the fires up on the ridgeline too...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw0fZoJhjvM