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Discover How Firefighting Aircraft Work And Their Crucial Importance For Global Climate Security. Get To Know The Main Models Used In Firefighting Around The World.
The recent wildfires in California, which devastated forests and affected urban areas, raised an intriguing question: how do firefighting aircraft work? In this article, we will detail the operation of these aircraft and explore the most commonly used models in firefighting, highlighting their crucial importance in protecting lives, properties, and the environment.
Types of Aircraft Used in Firefighting Today
Before understanding how firefighting aircraft operate, it is crucial to know that there are several types of vehicles utilized for this purpose, as well as various methods of use. In helicopters, the most common usage is a basket placed below the vehicle called a helibucket.
This bucket is flexible, easily removable and attachable to the machine, and can be filled with water on land, in lakes, pools, among others. There are also helicopters specifically designed for firefighting, such as the BELL 205. Changing vehicles, to understand how firefighting aircraft operate, we need to grasp the models of these planes.
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The fixed-wing aircraft used in firefighting come in a wide variety of models, with some being used on a fixed basis and others temporarily, categorized into light, medium, and heavy types.
Among the light aircraft, the most popular is the Air Tractor AT-802F, a highly versatile single-engine aircraft used widely for fighting wildfires. With various configuration options, including radial or turboprop engines, with one or two seats in traditional or amphibious models, this aircraft, which is one of the firefighting planes, was originally designed for agricultural purposes and is known as the “Tractor in the Skies.”
How Do Medium-Sized Firefighting Aircraft Work?
In this category, there are both aircraft specifically designed for this function, such as the Canadair CL-215/415 and the Russian Beriev Be-200, as well as aircraft originally designed for other purposes that can receive quick adaptations and others that can be converted for the task.
In the heavy class, we have very large aircraft, and for a long time, the biggest in the world was the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 30, operated by 10 Tanker Air Carrier. However, the aircraft had previously been operated by airlines such as National Airlines, Pan Am, American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Omni Air.
Its fleet consists of 4 vehicles that were originally passenger traffic aircraft and have been converted for firefighting use with the capacity to drop up to 35,000 liters of water. In addition, there was another earlier model; however, it was retired. These larger aircraft are more common in wildfires but can be contracted for firefighting in other locations.
Largest Firefighting Aircraft In The World Currently
In 2009, the DC-10 lost its title to the Boeing 747-400, which has been a true hero in combating wildfires. The company responsible for this wonder is Global SuperTanker, a company founded by former employees of Evergreen International, who were pioneers in using the 747 as an aircraft for firefighting.
Although Evergreen closed its doors in 2013, the legacy of the company continues through the supertanker, which is the largest firefighting aircraft ever built.
The N744ST is a Boeing 747-400, manufactured in 1991 for Japan Airlines (JAL), where it flew until 2010. After that, it was converted to cargo in the Boeing Converted Freighter (BcF) version and flew for just over a year with Evergreen before being stored after the company ceased operations.
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