Thread: New 737 firefighting tanker

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

Is this fitted with anything special to operate at such low altitudes?

Just the pilots Cojones!

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

Is this fitted with anything special to operate at such low altitudes?

Probably not, apart from any mods done to fit the fire kit.
Looking at the leading edge slats, they have at least flaps 10 out (non-SFP). That would put the pass speed below 210kts (and above They would need to override the EGPWS Flap (and possibly Gear) when doing a run in to attack a fire.

Drop speed is limited to both aircraft limits and the effect on substance being dropped. A higher speed tends to fragment and disperse too much, same with height.
Alternatively too low is not as effective and can do a lot of damage.

Alternatively too low is not as effective and can do a lot of damage.

A friend here had an Air Tractor drop a load near him. Snapped off a 30cm dia. Eucalyptus branch & the water would have killed him had it landed on him. Blimey, who'd have thought?

Originally Posted by Old Farang

The town was Yarloop and it was several years ago. I cannot recall what fixed wing was either there, or being considered, but the ground facilities, or lack of them, were the problem.

I have not done any aerial fire work, just used to fly helicopters amongst other things. But I grew up in the bush, my late Father was a local bushfire brigade captain, and I am well versed in what fires can do. It should be remembered that any aerial tanker is there to back up the ground crews, their function is not to extinguish fires per se. And helicopter's are much more flexible in what they can achieve.

WA fires are generally unique as we get strong winds at night. Yarloop was lost entirely at night. No aerial support was going to help there.

Originally Posted by 4bee

A friend here had an Air Tractor drop a load near him. Snapped off a 30cm dia. Eucalyptus branch & the water would have killed him had it landed on him. Blimey, who'd have thought?

That's why the drop height is higher, as I said it disperses better and the droplet size is smaller so even if it is dropped on vehicle or person it should only just wet them like heavy rain. Problems with drop too high as well, there is an optimum height depending on quite a few factors.

Originally Posted by cjc_td5

WA fires are generally unique as we get strong winds at night. Yarloop was lost entirely at night. No aerial support was going to help there.

The town itself may well have been burnt overnight, I cannot remember. But the fire burnt a lot longer than just one night. I am well aware of the easterly winds in the summertime, having grown up less than 10 miles of where you are at Burekup! Cheers.

Originally Posted by Old Farang

The town itself may well have been burnt overnight, I cannot remember. But the fire burnt a lot longer than just one night. I am well aware of the easterly winds in the summertime, having grown up less than 10 miles of where you are at Burekup! Cheers.

No worries. Yes there was fair amount of conjecture as to whether sufficient suppression was provided to the small fire that started 2 days prior, that ultimately grew and ran 80km that night...