Thread: Strange aircraft

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

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...

Originally Posted by 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...

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

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

Originally Posted by 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

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

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

No pics, but Tuesday I riding the Harley over to Lewiston and from on top of the Alpowai Grade, I could see smoke from a pretty good sized fire. At the bottom of the grade is Chief Timothy Park and there was a helicopter grabbing a bag of water. On by way back that same helicopter (or one that looked identical) was again grabbing a bag of water.

My thoughts were that the bag didn't look that big, but I suppose some water is better than no water at all.

Since then another fire broke out in the Umitilla National Forest and my nephew is leading one of the fire crews. I pray that he pays attention to his training so he come out of this fire alive.

The Helos may not carry much but they can apply it with precision. A fixed wing simply can't do this. I've seen 747s used to fight fires and it's more the shotgun approach.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The Helos may not carry much but they can apply it with precision. A fixed wing simply can't do this. I've seen 747s used to fight fires and it's more the shotgun approach.

I don't know, the pic of the 415 I posted was water bombing a burning wood chip pile, iirc, with city fire fighters and pumper trucks nearby. I was with a big crowd watching a few hundred yards away on a city road. I don't recall ever hearing anything bigger than the 415s used on forest fires in Ontario.

Boeing 747s and DC 10s for water bombing is a whole other kettle of fish. The turn around time for these biggies is quite long because they need an airfield that can take them which they have to return between runs to refill. Not so with something like the 415s which can make multiple runs refilling on the fly from nearby water sources.

Way OT, the classiest plane I have seen used for fire fighting are the Martin Mars based at Sproat Lake BC. Giant WWII era flying boats.

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

Bob

Out on the lake today, three of the AT802's again and one of the CL-415's I got some vid gotta load it later and see how it came out..