Who can identify this payload?

[workingonit]

Saw this today. Sorry the pic is not as good as I'd like to post.


IMGP2983 extract.jpg

[THE BOOGER]

fogging machine for pest control?

PS: is that a Pilatus I didn't think there were any on the register any more?

[stallie]

Chemtrails….

[workingonit]

Thanks Geoff.

Don't know much about aeroplanes particularly. Its marked VH-NTM with a 3 digit number. It's does not appear to on the CASA register - not sure if that's a legal requirement.

This one has been doing loops over the rural residential area all day, in close proximity, and flown very very low over the house about 6 or 7 times, pretty much just above tree level all the time.

Only after enlarging a photo did I see it was carrying something with what looked like spray nozzles.

No public notices that I could see in Saturdays paper, in case it was for mosquito spraying. If it was, then I wish they would say.

[workingonit]

Sorry, Pilatus? It was a single engine and seemed to have 5 blades. Am I going to be plagued with the equivalent of bird watchers wanting to see it?

[goingbush]

Its an Airtractor (fire bomber) - you can see the pod ( bomb doors) in this photo

[THE BOOGER]

Pilatus pc 6 was used by Australian army

Pilatus PC-6 Porter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[workingonit]

I think you've nailed it as the tractor.

We had some grass fires on the west side of my suburban area. The pilot made a few dives in that direction, but most of the time the pilot was on the eastern side ie no where near any fire. Helicopters were water bombing so would you have an aeroplane doing low level like this ie visibility issues for the choppers. Can these planes be used to drop incendiaries to back burn, or drop useful water? Fair enough if he was doing something useful.

Out of curiosity would the craft be below radar?

Here it comes. Have got other better photos because it came lower for longer a couple of other times.

IMGP2985.jpg

IMGP2986.jpg

IMGP2987.jpg

IMGP2988.jpg

IMGP2989.jpg

[workingonit]

...actually I've just realised this one has difference ID under the wings to the other I also photographed - so there were 2!! Got to be related to the fire! Thanks for the help...and no visit from plane spotters then? (your welcome to, but bring LRover parts as gifts - cheers)

[goingbush]

No They only use choppers to drop pingpong balls (incendiaries) they have a special hopper for the purpose (so as not to have naked flames in the chopper) , too hard to aim the trajectory from a fixed wing

they will have transponders so being 'below radar' isn't a concern.

the air tractors hold useful water 3000 L (3 tonnes) but obviously take some time to land and refill, where as the big skycranes ( aka Elvis) hold 9000L