Not quite a warbird, but closer than a sunken German warship

[Larry Kraus]

This picture was posted on the Fire Aviation website. It’s the Boeing 747 Tanker 944 getting ready to drop on the Valley Fire near San Diego a few days ago.

516AB360-B20B-405B-A08B-E09AF60A9B3D by tanker622001, on Flickr

Here’s a link to the Fire Aviation post

https://fireaviation.com/2020/09/11/747-inbound/

[JohnB]

Okay, some of us are just old enough to remember when 747s were the newest (literally) big thing.
Back then fire bombers were ancient military ships and slightly newer, but still old school, piston airluners.

Who would have then thought that someday 747s would be common and cheap enough to replace the propliners and warbirds?

Last edited by JohnB on Mon Sep 14, 2020 12:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Chris Brame]

Yikes! Did he take any more photos, or did he just hit the dirt?

Just curious, speaking of airliners, were there ever any DC-3 air tankers? If not how come?

[Larry Kraus]

There was at least one tanked DC-3 in the late 1950s or early 60s. This picture of a drop with borate . Mel Christler May have been the operator. I’ll have to do some research.

EF2F9EE5-F40F-409E-ABA8-BA6DD05C50A3 by tanker622001, on Flickr

I found these pictures on the internet although these aircraft aren’t in use as air tankers, at least in the U.S.

D6DBD57D-3A68-4B95-89F7-497584A1F6C3 by tanker622001, on Flickr

1526867B-5B5E-439C-9509-764A55A1AC6C by tanker622001, on Flickr

When TBM Inc. three C-117D/R4D-8s they moved a tank from one of their F7Fs in place to see if it would be practical to use these aircraft as tankers. It would have been possible, but not profitable because of having to use a two man crew to carry about 800 gallons of retardant. Piston engine S-2s could do that without having to pay a co-pilot. I ended up flying one of these Super DC-3s on the 1981 Alaska Fish Haul. I’ll have to post pictures of that experience sometime.

1A140FB5-01ED-44DF-827A-6D6EF53B8DBB by tanker622001, on Flickr

957059E8-3137-437C-8419-B067E8EBA02A by tanker622001, on Flickr

9CA8130E-61BC-4070-916F-A26292E9D956 by tanker622001, on Flickr

[Duggy009]

A relative

[old iron]

Hey! That 747 should count as a warbird!

[raconnel]

For some reason, that 747 reminds me of the opening scene from "Airplane". Duh dun, duh dun, duh dun, duh dun...

[Michel Lemieux]

Not quite a warbird....

One could disagree Larry????? And thank you for all your great posts....always informative & entertaining.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_YAL-1

[phil65]

I take offense with that subject line....

Phil

[Larry Kraus]

Ah say, that was a joke, son....

[Michel Lemieux]

Main difference is the tanker is a fire extinguisher.....and the military version...is a fire starter!

Coincidence????

[Scott Rose]

Have never seen a DC-3 as a fire bomber! Neat stuff.

[mike furline]

Not quite a warbird....

One could disagree Larry????? And thank you for all your great posts....always informative & entertaining.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_YAL-1

I would like to mention that the insignia is the wrong shade of blue.

[Larry Kraus]

Here are some screen captures from videos posted some time ago on the fire aviation website. Here’s a link to that post:

https://fireaviation.com/2020/10/05/vid ... r-tankers/

I was taught that making uphill drops is sometimes necessary because it’s the only way that you can see the target. If you have to do it keep up your speed and hope that there isn’t down air coming over the ridge line, you don’t have an engine failure and that the tank doors open. Maybe, you don’t have to worry about that sort of thing with a 747? It’s best to try to give yourself a downhill run for an exit when things go wrong. Sooner or later they will.

D3FF5D9E-E87F-420A-91CC-A4264A7D5B27 by tanker622001, on Flickr


60246838-A904-4F54-96A8-85477594C073 by tanker622001, on Flickr

C3FFC646-CAA2-4EF6-9BFD-64E5A7F01575 by tanker622001, on Flickr

The 747 undershorts the turn to final by a little bit making the drop slightly to the left of the ideal path. Easy enough to do. I’ve done it many times trying to follow a lead plane, especially when the lead makes last second heading changes.

B259A583-F844-4076-A6B0-56D5DFDE1EB9 by tanker622001, on Flickr

D6637FA0-3B90-4C88-BDFC-81A62C976A8F by tanker622001, on Flickr

4FD8AC1B-F1A4-4EB7-940B-FDDC36BEAD99 by tanker622001, on

I have another set of screen captures images showing the 747 on another drop that are from a video on the link above. I may post them later if there’s any interest in seeing them.

[phil65]

Let's seem them...

Phil