I landed in Fairbanks last night as a passenger and had a window seat. As we were rolling out there was a Fireboss on the step scooping water for a fire they were fighting locally. I saw them below us when we were turning base as they (two in trail of each other) passed under us. Then when we parked at the gate 2 CL-415’s were scooping from the float pond. There were also 2 Q400’s configured for fire fighting coming and going. When I checked into the hotel I was watching them coming and going until late in the night. No real point to all of this except is was so cool to watch all this activity, I only wish I could have seen the actual drops. I just wanted to share. Wish I had pictures.

Kurt

Recently saw a flight of 5 Firebosses, two Super Scoopers, and a gaggle of assorted helicopters work a fire, it was a better airshow than any 'real' airshow. If you get the chance to see them work, it is awesome to watch.

A fire occurred just opposite Hood River in the Columbia Gorge about a year ago. Not exactly sure how it started, but it was near some railroad track, so that could have been it.

Within less than an hour of seeing smoke coming out of the brush, three firebosses and multiple retardant firebombers were hammering the area. I had to stop what I was doing, as it was incredible to watch. There were houses and property very close by and a steep hillside the fire was marching up, so I could understand the response. It was really fun to watch and arguably better than an airshow, especially when there was minimal damage to life and property.

This winter, I read a book called Mudslingers by the CEO of Bridger Aerospace, Tim Sheehy. It does a great job of explaining the history of aerial firefighting, specifically scoopers. I recommend it to anyone who gets a kick out of this type of aviation.

- Adam

These fire bomber pilots don’t get nearly the recognition they deserve. Fixed wing and heli.

Kurt

Kurt,

If those scoopers are from Bridger Aerospace, they're actually highly modified 215s. Not quite 415s. Same engines, and most configurations, but slightly smaller water tanks.

The FAI float pond is a near perfect source of water, on a very safe site....no deadheads, debris, etc. When I pioneered some sources for the 215 guys, they were not allowed to scoop from rivers....too much risk of damage due to dead heads and partially submerged debris.

They are fun to watch. I had a research crew on a big, fairly deep lake on the Yukon Flats when a fire started from a lightning strike near that lake. I heard the 215 guys on the CTAF at Fort Yukon headed for that fire after fueling. I called them and gave them the coordinates of the lake my crew was on, and the depth/length. I landed and told my crew they were about to experience a great air show.....and right then the first Canadair 215 dropped in on the lake, followed by two others.

The fire was three miles away from the lake, so they set up a daisy chain.....scoop, proceed direct to fire, drop, cycle around, scoop, etc. That went on for four hours. Occasionally, one of the planes would disappear, hopping over to FYU for quick fuel and service, then back.....

This all started about five in the afternoon. My field crew cooked dinner, got their folding chairs out, perched on the lake shore and watched the show......

Those P & W 2800s made a MUCH more spectacular sound than the newer turbines, of course, which added to the effect.

I've never flown those things, but I'm guessing it's hard work, especially at a tempo where you're scooping every five or ten minutes....

Fun to watch, in any case.

MTV