Not Quite a Warbird, but a good story

[Larry Kraus]

This showed up on the Fire Aviation website today.

https://fireaviation.com/2023/11/21/chi ... ed-cl-215/

It references this article from Vertical Magazine

https://verticalmag.com/news/chinook-re ... hern-lake/

Some pictures from the rescue of the stranded CL-215 Water Bomber (aka Duck) and the Chinook Helicopter from both sources. I suppose that the Chinook might be considered a Warbird.

IMG_5488 by tanker622001, on Flickr

IMG_5489 by tanker622001, on Flickr

IMG_5490 by tanker622001, on Flickr

IMG_5492 by tanker622001, on Flickr

IMG_5491 by tanker622001, on Flickr

IMG_5494 by tanker622001, on Flickr

Last edited by Larry Kraus on Thu Nov 23, 2023 9:24 am, edited 1 time in total.

[phil65]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obkzuBZmUOI&t=6s

1:04 minute mark, WTF...

LMAO,
Phil

[Zac Yates]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obkzuBZmUOI&t=6s

1:04 minute mark, WTF...

LMAO,
Phil

That was something! I should show it to my A&P instructors...

[JohnB]

Yes, I'd call the Chinook a warbird.
It been produced for over 60 years and is still in production for the military.
A bit like the C-130.

In 2019, I was surprised to see a Billings Chinook parked at a North Idaho airport during fire season. That was the first time I'd seen a civil example.
I hate to think of the hourly rate for chartering that. Must make a Huey look like a Robinson.

[quemerford]

Those folks put themselves in harm's way every time they do a drop. I'd have no issues referring to any air tanker as a warbird.

[DH82EH]

That's a really valid point.
It's also, I bet, as close as you can come to flying in a combat type environment in civil aviation.
Unless you count wrestling drunk, selfish, A-holes in the aisle of an airliner

[Thomas_Mac]

Not Mr. Tessiers first foray into helping with some Plane Saving

https://www.planesavers.com/

[Dave Hadfield]

I'm impressed by that wing-mounted hoist. Is that a standard accessory for a 215?

As for the 1:05 mark, did you mean the ladder on the raft?

[DH82EH]

I've used a similar type of overhead, aircraft mounted hoist, on more modern aircraft. Specifically DASH-8, both classic and Q-400.
As for the ladder on the raft. Hey, it might not be OSHA approved, but in the bush you kinda gotta do what ya' gotta do!

Andy

[phil65]

I'm impressed by that wing-mounted hoist. Is that a standard accessory for a 215?

As for the 1:05 mark, did you mean the ladder on the raft?

Yuppers.. And using that looks like an abrasive cutoff wheel on a rubber ducky, what could go wrong...

At least he is wearing a hearing protector...

Phil

[Matt Gunsch]

I'm impressed by that wing-mounted hoist. Is that a standard accessory for a 215?

As for the 1:05 mark, did you mean the ladder on the raft?

The PBY has a similar arrangement.