Andrew Ong 1 Report post Posted November 3, 2006 I read the newspaaer the other day (in my own words): A former American Airlines DC-10-10 was converted to a plane that could drop hundreds of gallons of water, fire retardent onto the ground, the convertion took place around April-May 2006 and was certified by the FAA on September and it went into service with the California Forestry Service. Later in the month it fought its first fire, the "Day" Fire. It charred 129,000 acres and it dropped 34,000 gallon of fire retardant onto the Day Fire. Then it also dropped 42,000 gallons of fir retardent on the current but already extinguished "Esperanza" Fire. Comments are welcomed Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KC Sim 2 Report post Posted November 3, 2006 And here it is . . . performing a water-dropping demonstration at the Paris Air Show 2005. KC Sim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chaity 1 Report post Posted November 3, 2006 Wow! Surprised to see her carry such load. It must be heavy. KC, thanks for the photo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Yong 0 Report post Posted November 4, 2006 WOW !!! AWESOMW demo!!! Thanks for Ur photo KC!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Fendy Report post Posted November 4, 2006 nice, but after dropping its gotta land to replenish? waste time... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sandeep G 1 Report post Posted November 6, 2006 nice, but after dropping its gotta land to replenish? waste time... If fighting fires yes... but imagine one big giant wet-t-shirt competition during US Spring Break!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Ong 1 Report post Posted November 6, 2006 If fighting fires yes... but imagine one big giant wet-t-shirt competition during US Spring Break!!! Sandeep has a point there; Its because it can stop BIG fires. Also, I for got to say that there is also obviously a converted 747-231(SF) air tanker by Evergreen International. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Azuddin 1 Report post Posted November 6, 2006 A DC-10 converted into water bomber is not a new stuff, check this out DC-10 water dropping demo water dropping demo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Ong 1 Report post Posted November 6, 2006 A DC-10 converted into water bomber is not a new stuff, check this out DC-10 water dropping demo water dropping demo Not new???? My friend told me that the DC-10 conversion was very recent. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sandeep G 1 Report post Posted November 6, 2006 Sandeep has a point there; Its because it can stop BIG fires. Also, I for got to say that there is also obviously a converted 747-231(SF) air tanker by Evergreen International. Andrew, I think again you misunderstand. I was agreeing with Fendy on "wasting Time"... There are lots of operational issues associated with the DC10 in firefighting config that could really hamper its effective operation. Remember that C130 that lost its wings fighting fires?? see here Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Azuddin 1 Report post Posted November 6, 2006 Not new???? My friend told me that the DC-10 conversion was very recent. it's only 2 years, could be new. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seth K 3 Report post Posted November 6, 2006 If fighting fires yes... but imagine one big giant wet-t-shirt competition during US Spring Break!!! T shirt during spring break...no no no Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted November 6, 2006 And here it is . . . performing a water-dropping demonstration at the Paris Air Show 2005. KC Sim Will be difficult to remain level-flight/same altitude, when all this weight is released Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sandeep G 1 Report post Posted November 7, 2006 Will be difficult to remain level-flight/same altitude, when all this weight is released Especially with near full or full flaps deployed as can be seen in that picture KC provided.. I would love to see the operational procedure for this particular aircraft water dump.. When dump is executed, do pilots immediately execute a "go-around" like procedure??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Ong 1 Report post Posted November 7, 2006 Especially with near full or full flaps deployed as can be seen in that picture KC provided.. I would love to see the operational procedure for this particular aircraft water dump.. When dump is executed, do pilots immediately execute a "go-around" like procedure??? When the news show the DC-10 doing a water dropping over the massive "Day" Fire at San Bernardino County Los Padres National Forest, I saw it made one trip went around and left. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KC Sim 2 Report post Posted November 7, 2006 Check out the November 2006 issue of AIRWAYS (www.airwaysmag.com). There is a superb article on the B747 and DC-10 supertankers for fighting fires. According to the article, the DC-10 tanker holds 12,000 US gallons of water or retardant - and once back on the ground, it takes only 8 minutes to fully re-fill the tanks. This DC-10 tanker has a very colourful past - having first operated in the beautiful colours of National Airlines, then with Pan American, Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines before going to Omni Air International in 1997 for the tanker conversion. Its real-life fire-fighting debut took place on 16 July 2006 . . . in the San Bernardino County fire. KC Sim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
