Reply With QuoteBe very interesting to see how much an hour they are charging for VLAT's, the 737's load of 15,000 litres is less than half the DC 10's 40,000 litres. I have heard the DC 10 is not coming out this year.
Wizard
SupporterThe launch of the latest Large Air Tanker (LAT) 'Gaia' will see in a world's first, a '737' utilised for aerial firefighting. 'Gaia' is the last of four LATs to arrive in the state to combat bush fires across NSW this season.
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Master
Be very interesting to see how much an hour they are charging for VLAT's, the 737's load of 15,000 litres is less than half the DC 10's 40,000 litres. I have heard the DC 10 is not coming out this year.
Wizard
SupporterNo idea how they work out an hourly rate. The insurance component alone must be substantial. There is another video floating around that shows the inside. Evidently it is configured for I believe, 18 passengers. There are 2 tanks with access down each side of them, and under FAA rules they have to have cabin staff. So I guess it is designed to transport a ground crew in addition to dropping retardant / water.
Giant Boeing 737 waterbomber deployed to battle Newcastle bushfires in world first - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Firefighting 737: ‘Gaia’ arrives in Sydney for bushfire season
Last edited by Old Farang; 23rd November 2018 at 09:28 PM. Reason: added link
Master
Talked to a bloke this morning who had flown on the DC10 in Oz, he said DC10's load is 45,000 litres.
AT REST
I believe the NSW LAT firefighting fleet is now 2 RJs, a C130 and the "new" B737 (not at all new but well used aircraft previously owned by Southwest Airlines (US)), + smaller aircraft (local ag aircraft (plural) & helos) on standby. Should all be a good backup for ground based firefighting resources.
Even though the 737 is freshly painted up in flash NSW RFS logos, it is still registered with US reg N137CG and operates with callsign "Bomber 137" from RAAF RIC. I am told that It is on long term lease from Coulson Aviation. Coulson Aviation is a Canadian outfit formerly known for running the 75+yo Martin Mars flying boats as firefighting tankers
Fly the Martin Mars! The Ultimate Experience Aircraft Familiarization Course .
I assume that Victoria's LATs have been delayed by the California bushfire crisis.
LordRover
SupporterWhat is world first????Originally Posted by Old Farang
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AT REST
perhaps it was the first time a B737 V/LAT had been used to dump water on a fire at Salt Ash ?
Swaggie
Subscriberi didnt know the load was so much less!
5 SEAT's would be cheaper.
we got briefed the DC10 would be in mildura so it could service both vic and SA
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ForumSage
To me a Canadair CL215 / 415 makes much more sense , the turnaround of 737 or DC10 is going to be a very long time.
Or one of these. Scoop up 15,000 L in a matter of seconds if it were so equipped.
ShinMaywa US-2 - Wikipedia
Wizard
SupporterNo longer involved in aviation, but I believe the reasoning behind the new B737 is to use it as a multi purpose tool to rapidly position ground crews in addition to having a water dumping role, albeit it limited capacity. And yes, loading an aircraft like a DC10 is a major problem, both in terms of a suitable airport, and more importantly, ground equipment and water source to load it.
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